New Zealand have shown guts and determination in spades at this World Cup and it will be sad to see them go home today. That is what the bookmakers will have you believe is going to happen anyway - we are not so sure.

Yes, they probably will go home, but they drew against Slovakia and Italy - what is to say that when their backs are against the wall, they can't beat Paraguay?

It is a big ask, but football is a funny old game and stranger things have happened. You'll have an entire country believe it is possible and you'll have an entire country hoping it isn't. If Paraguay lose to New Zealand they are almost certainly going home.

All Group F games today kick off at 4pm in South Africa

Group F Table

Team	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
Paraguay	2	1	1	0	2	4
Italy	2	0	2	0	0	2
New Zealand	2	0	2	0	0	2
Slovakia	2	0	1	1	-2	1

Paraguay v New Zealand

I have to be blunt; I expect Paraguay to win this game. However, a bit of me wants to see the Kiwi spirit that we saw against Italy again and if we do, anything is possible, but chances are very slim.

There is the potential for this game to be game of the day but we have already given that accolade away and while it is possible, chances are slim; Paraguay should have more than enough to beat New Zealand and they should have another gear they do not need.

Slovakia v Italy

We have not yet seen what Italy are capable of and it is too easy to say they are missing the creativity and guile of Andrea Pirlo but it really is that simple and when he is back to full fitness and when he does play 90 minutes - it will be a different Italy.

Italy will win this game and they will possibly do it without Pirlo - but he did train this week and he is looking like he will be back to full fitness soon - when that happens Italy will be a different team.

Our Prediction

We were confident with our predictions for Group C yesterday much as we are for our predictions for Group E today. We were not confident with Group D yesterday and we are not confident with this group either in terms of results.

The smart money has to be on Italy and Paraguay - but something is making us not commit to it, but that is our prediction.

If this group goes the way of the smart money and Group E goes as we predict, then Italy will be playing the Dutch in the last sixteen and Denmark will be playing Paraguay and if it does happen - then you must be a happy Denmark fan.