Slovakia faces a decisive moment at the 2010 World Cup

The Slovakia national team faces a decisive moment at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa: After a disappointing 1–1 draw against football minnows New Zealand (as we reported) and a deserved 2–0 defeat to Paraguay yesterday, Slovakia must beat Italy—and, after all, world champions Italy, who seem to have lost all their former brilliance, could manage no better result in yesterday’s match against the “Kiwis” than coach Vladimír Weiss’s men.

Slovakia: World champions Italy are the opponents in the decisive match

World champions Italy are the Slovak national team’s next opponents. If Slovakia beat the lackluster 2006 world champions, they would almost certainly advance—unless New Zealand beat Paraguay, in which case the Group F goal difference would decide. And beating Italy may not be so impossible after all, given the alarming performances of the once-proud Italians: Italy have looked vulnerable in defense at this World Cup, too. Their captain, Cannavaro, is only a shadow of his former self and too slow to stop quick forwards such as Sestak. Slovakia’s chance in the decisive match lies in executing well-organized counterattacks. For their part, the Italians cannot simply defend in this match, contrary to their usual style; they need to win to secure a place in the knockout stage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Coach Weiss will set up his team accordingly. And one thing is certain: the whole of Slovakia will gather in front of their televisions to support and passionately cheer on their team when the “Squadra Azzurra” face them in Johannesburg at 4:00 p.m. on June 24, 2010.