Italy surprised me in 2006. They were not the last team I thought were going to win and there is no doubt they have quality player and they know how to play football, but they were not on my list of teams that I thought were going to win.

Tonight they face Paraguay in Cape Town and both teams could win this. This isn't anyone playing Greece and it should make for an interesting game. When I say both teams could win, I also expect both teams to go through from this group so it might very well be a draw and this result won't be seen as that relevant when they both get six points against the other two teams in Group F.

But we know they wont be thinking like that as the walk out onto the pitch in the Mother City - they will be treating it as a battle and both teams will go all out for the win.

Prediction

A good game with lots of passion, but a draw. It's just that I think these two sides will equal themselves out and Italy will know this is the hardest game of the group and they might not want to risk too much knowing that Paraguay can be a threat when attacking.

We have predicted seven out of nine correct so far but this one will get us in trouble and we suspect the Japan v Cameroon game won't be a draw also. But this one very well could be and if you click here you can get a free £25 bet from Betfair to put on the draw.

View from the Opposition

Paraguay striker, Lucas Barrios
We have to take advantage of today's game and our chances - almost nobody in this World Cup is winning by more than one or two goals.

Italy goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon
We have the qualities needed to safeguard our title, but it will not be easy. We are here without an obsession to win, but convinced we can play well.

End Notes

We expected much from the Netherlands and got little. We expect little from Italy and we hope they surprise us. Could be a cracking game - Italy have the ingredients and they do know how to cook.