Slovakia (National Football)

Wow! The holders of the 2006 FIFA World Cup are out in the first round - winless and bottom of their group. Also exiting stage left are New Zealand, Cameroon and, a little more shockingly, Denmark.

Italy (E)

This grade is more about Italy's overall disappointing performance over three games rather than today's effort (which would have been a C-), where they lost 3-2 to upstart Slovakia. What amazed us was Marcelo Lippi's management skills. At 1-0 down, Lippi refused to change things, despite the fact that his country was in the crapper. Where was Pirlo, who was brilliant when he came on and was Italy's man of the match?

The Italians will probably curse the officials for an offside that was as close as they come, and for not giving the team more time because of Slovakian second half time-wasting.  However, it was the appalling defending that let in the first goal, and the lack of marking for the second that really cost them - as well as two inept performances against Paraguay and New Zealand. What's next? Ignominy and a rude reception in Rome upon their return.

Slovakia (B+)

When the Slovakian players weren't constantly falling to the floor, they were actually quite good footballers. They passed the ball well, finished chances given to them, and definitely contributed to one of the most exciting games of football you'll ever likely see. We look forward to more of them soon.

What's next? The second round, and a tie against the Netherlands - who will probably beat them handily.

Netherlands (B-)

We didn't see too much of Holland in their group games, but did they ever really get out of second gear? The Netherlands have a devastating amount of talent at their disposal, and that's why we reckon they are hot favourites to at least get to the semi-finals. Nine points out of a possible nine isn't a bad way to start a tournament - England would have loved another win, wouldn't they? What's next? Slovakia, and then the quarterfinals.

New Zealand (A)

We expected 'The All Whites' to get slaughtered in their three group games, and how wrong we were. Today's effort against Paraguay was yet another plucky effort, and we loved seeing the team play in black.

They battled for every inch of their turf once again, and anyone who is a New Zealander should be proud of their country's efforts over the last few weeks. We just wish they'd scored a victory to really upset the world, and seen a haka. We missed both. What's next? Hopefully an incredible reception in Auckland.

Japan (B)

Japan play some pretty football, and they can also shoot. Just ask Denmark keeper Thomas Sorenson, who let through two of the loveliest free-kicks you're ever likely to see. Driven on by Honda, their striker (no pun intended), Japan were skillful, continually remembering to actually move for a pass - something that England struggled to do against Algeria. What's next? A monster, but winnable clash with Paraguay.

Paraguay (C)

If you want to scare people, it's probably not the best of results to only draw with New Zealand, is it? If we're honest, we weren't too in love with Paraguay after the Italy game, and we aren't feeling the same for them this time, despite the fact that they finished top of their group. What's up? Japan.

Cameroon (D)

I had to laugh at the nickname 'The Indomitable Lions', because Cameroon proved to be anything but indomitable in South Africa. They were outclassed by the Dutch, and will go home having ventured little and gained nothing. What's next? Regrouping before the next African Nations Cup.

Denmark (C)

It must be really annoying for a set of fans to see their team go out of the World Cup when, once again, they were expected to at least go to the second round. But tonight, they were outclassed by Japan, who won 3-1 in a superb game between sides needing the victory to guarantee qualification for the knock-out stages.

Denmark will be looking to give Niklaus Bendtner shooting lessons when all is said is done, as he missed another two good chances in Thursday's game. What's next? European qualifiers, and reminding the crowing Swedish fans which country actually made the finals.

Slovakia sends Italy—the defending champions—packing.

How did they do it? Were they that fantastic, or was it because Italy wasn't good enough on this occasion?

The Slovakian team is not bad but it's far from fantastic. The team's performance today was certainly not incredible. I'm not trying to take away from the Slovakians' victory, I am just being objective in analysing their performance.

What was certainly present in the Slovakians' effort today was control, and a person can't say this enough, even if one runs the danger of sounding clichéd: midfield, midfield, midfield...If a team controls the midfield, it controls the game. And Slovakia did that.

The Slovakian defense didn't have to cope with undue pressure from the Italian attack. That also meant that the Slovakians could play the game at their own pace, avoiding frantic decisions on and off the ball.

Again, it meant that they could take advantage of opportunities to drive the ball to their attackers in the spots where the Italian defense was vulnerable. If you ask how or why they were able to score three goals against the favored Italians, there is your answer.

But how Slovakia was able to control the midfield against experienced and quality Italian players is not easy to say. The answer could be that the Slovakian players—though wanting the same level of experience—possess no less quality than the Italians, they are just not as well known.

One thing was vital to the Slovakians' victory in this match: they controlled all the initiative. They also scored first. That gave them the momentum, transferring pressure to the Italians as a result. I'd bet that had Italy scored first, the Slovakian side wouldn't have won the match.

In the final minutes of the game, when momentum began to shift the Italians' way, one thing saved the Slovakians: they scored again. Making the score line 3-1 meant that the wind was taken from of the Italians' collective sail.

When the Italians scored their second goal, they started to believe again, it was, however, too late at that point. If they had more time, with their confidence on the upsurge and the momentum now favoring them, they could have tied the game and advanced to the next round of the World Cup.

I have touched on the pace at which the match was played, which favored the Slovakians. This was vital, as was out-foxing the Italians at pretense, though the referee was not fooled by those tactics.

First it was goalkeeper Jan Mucha, who went down early in the second half from the slightest of challenges from an Italian attacker. Then there was the melee in the goal when the Italians scored their second goal.

Then, of course, there were the usual time-wasting tactics in the dying minutes by the winning side: exaggerating tackles, and making a needless substitution in the final one or two minutes of the game.

These are negatives, but the point is that the Slovakians did not allow the Italians—who are one of the world's best at these tactics—to play that card.

We saw Kader Keita (of Cote d'Ivoire) use this tactic as a reply to the Brazilians, who had begun playing this card in the dying minutes of their game, resulting in Kaka being sent off. The underdogs are catching on that both sides can play that game.

Returning to another question asked in the beginning, was Italy not good enough on this occasion?

The advantage must go the way of the Italians in terms of the quality of players and their combined experience on the pitch. They also had the added advantage of being the current World Champions, and yet again, the advantage of reputation built over the years as a world power in football. So what was wrong with them?

Passion, plain and simple. We saw the Americans play like their lives depended on the outcome of their games, twice when the tide of their matches were against them. Each time they came through.

Had the Italians played with the same passion they displayed in the final 10 minutes of the match, the story would be different. This says a great deal about a nation that is usually not wanting in passion.

The Italians' upsurge in the final minutes and goals showed that it's not difficult to rattle the Slovakians, or score against them. The moral of this is, never put off attending to situations until the last moment. While if you pull it off, it would make for a glorious ending, the chances are you may not have enough time, or luck for that glorious finish. 

This advice comes too late for the Italians but not for the Americans, who have waited until the final minutes to take care of their business thus far. Next time, they may not be so lucky.

The Slovakians may take this advice as well, even though they didn't need it this time. To put it differently, they must continue to take the initiative, for if they do, their Cinderella story may yet continue even against their next opponent, the Dutch.

For now, it is congratulations to them, especially to my friend, Ivana. If you are reading this, I hope you are celebrating, and good luck against the Dutch.

It could have been the Michigan vs Appalachian State of World Cup football.

But sadly, it wasn't.

North Korea held Brazil for the first half, conceded two goals, and managed to pull one back—but then time ran out.

But finally, our imaginations were allowed to live: Football has finally arrived.

1) Brazil

We expected Brazil to smash North Korea into the earth, and after they went 2-0 midway through the second half, the rout was on.

But in fact the nasty ghost—Brazilian defending—rose its ugly head as the 2002 World Cup winners failed to stop Ji Yun-nam, who beat four players and hammered it past the keeper.

The world held their breath, but Brazil got away with the three points.

2) Portugal - Ivory Coast

For you Twitter users, I'll sum this 0-0 draw up in 150 Characters: "What an awful game."

There you go.

Nothing else to say about this.

3) Cristiano Ronaldo

The goddawful game was highlighted by Cristiano Ronaldo's brilliant shot that hit the post early in the first half.

If there's any footballer who can keep this ball down, it's Ronaldo.

He'll be their source of inspiration this year.

4) 'Not Sacrificial' New Zealand Lambs

We were expecting New Zealand to be like their lamb: sacrificial.

But they were well-organised, battled the Slovakians, conceded a first goal and then scored a deserved equaliser in the 92nd minute, sending all those in Auckland who were actually awake to watch this into raptures.

We can only hoped some of them called their Australian 'neighbours' and said "We've got more point than you....."

5) Slovakia

Again, this is a disappointing team.

Italy and Paraguay shouldn't be worried about this team.

With less than a month until the World Cup commences, Slovakia takes a large step in preparations for the biggest sporting event in the world with the announcement of the preliminary roster of 29, which will be clipped to 23 on June 1. 

On May 29, coach Vladimir Weiss and the provisional roster will be put to the test in a pivotal friendly against Cameroon. Although the match may not have an effect on roster fixtures such as Marek Hamsik, others that still have their place up in the air will have to perform well to ensure their spot on the plane to South Africa.

Looking at the squad's current composition, Weiss' selections have potential to inflict damage in the early rounds of South Africa. Attacking prowess is definitely on display, especially if forwards Robert Vittek and Filip Holosko come back smoothly from their injury woes. 

The controversy behind the selections is that many players chosen either have not recovered from injury or are quite inexperienced, which raises the question of whether most of his squad will be ready for South Africa. If Coach Weiss' gambles turn out a success, then Slovakia could be a solid choice to advance into the round of 16 or even the quarterfinals.

Weiss’ provisional 29-man roster is composed of players that compete for clubs from a diverse group of countries. Only three of the players are home-based, one of which is Kornel Salata of Slovan Bratislava, while the other two, Zilna Pecalka and Kamil Kopunek, play for the Slovak club Trnava Spartak.

There will be three players from the English Premier League that have a chance to represent the Repre in South Africa. Starlets Miroslav Stoch and Vladimir Weiss Jr. play for Chelsea and Manchester City, respectively, but neither see much time from their clubs. Liverpool defender, Martin Skrtel, received playing time on an irregular basis, as he missed much of the season due to injury.

One could examine Weiss’ choices in the squad and claim that he doesn’t mind taking risks. Weiss chose multiple players from the youth ranks and selected players who have not played since their injuries. Inured players on the roster include Martin Skrtel, Filip Holosko and Robert Vittek. How durable they will be remains a question.

Despite the selection of the injured trio, the squad did not have many other controversial choices, with most-capped player Miroslav Karhan, Slovak star Marek Hamsik and goal-threat Stanislav Sestak headlining the selections.

Here is the provisional roster with the likely starters in bold:

GOALKEEPERS: Jan Mucha (Legia Warsaw), Dusan Kuciak (Vaslui), Lubos Kamenar (Nantes), Dusan Pernis (Dundee United)

DEFENDERS: Peter Pekarik (Wolfsburg), Martin Petras (Cesena), Martin Skrtel (Liverpool), Lubomir Michalik (Leeds), Jan Durica (Hannover), Radoslav Zabavnik (Mainz), Marek Cech (West Brom), Tomas Lubocan (Zenit St Petersburg), Kornel Salata (Slovan Bratislava)

MIDFIELDERS: Kamil Kopunek (Spartak Trnava), Jan Kozak (Timisoara), Juraj Kucka (Sparta Prague), Miroslav Karhan (Mainz), Marek Sapara (Ankaragucu), Mario Pecalka (Zilina), Stanislav Sestak (Bochum), Marek Hamsik (Napoli), Vladimir Weiss (Manchester City), Miroslav Stoch (Chelsea), Dusan Svento (Salzburg), Zdeno Strba (Xanthi)

FORWARDS: Erik Jendrisek (Schalke), Robert Vittek (Ankaragucu), Martin Jakubko (Saturn Moscow), Filip Holosko (Besiktas)

Qualifying was not an easy task for Slovakia, but a Polish own goal brought the Repre to South Africa for their first ever World Cup.

Although most pundits did not see Slovakia advancing out of their qualifying group, they managed to fend off tough competition, as they finished atop a group with Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Northern Ireland, Poland, and San Marino.

Schedule

New Zealand: June 15

Paraguay: June 20

Italy: June 24

Slovakia received a decent draw for the group stages, as matchups against New Zealand, Paraguay and Italy make the round of 16 a realistic goal for the debutantes.

The Repre get their feet wet in a game that should result in three points against New Zealand, which will be an advantage considering the squad’s youth. The group fixtures become progressively difficult with matches against Paraguay and finishing out Group F against the defending World Champions Italy in Johannesburg.

One advantage that Slovakia will have going into what seems to be a fight for second in Group F against Paraguay is that the Paraguayans will have to travel over 1,000 kilometers to Bloemfontein, while the Slovaks will only travel 445 km.

Assuming Italy fulfills most people’s predictions as top in Group F, while both Paraguay and Slovakia receive three points from the New Zealand match, the battle for second seems to be the match to watch in this group.

Key Players

The team’s most valuable player in the attack will be Marek Hamsik, the creative Napoli midfielder. Crowned the Slovakian Player of the Year, and twice Slovakian Young Player of the Year, the 22-year-old may have only scored two goals in qualifying, but the fact that he currently leads a Napoli team that is contending for a Champions League spot with 12 goals will definitely make Hamsik the main focus of opposing defenses.

Central defender Martin Skrtel spearheads the back line and his spotty form for Liverpool should not be examined too closely, as he has been great for Slovakia in their qualifying campaign. Although Skrtel will be fit for the World Cup, it will be interesting to see how he performs after being out for eight weeks for Liverpool due to a broken metatarsal.

Coach Vladimir Weiss was successful in leading a young squad in the qualifying stages, and he will need to rally the troops and prevent a breakdown similar to that of the 2-0 loss in their meaningful match against Slovenia.

The defense may be a cause for concern for Weiss, but attacking options are there, especially with Beşiktaş striker Filipe Holosko coming back from injury.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The biggest strength for Slovakia is their potency in attack. Slovakia will have no problem putting the ball in the net, as they scored 22 goals in 10 matches during qualifying. Striker Stanislav Sestak emerged as a goal threat during the qualifying campaign as he led the squad with six goals.

Thriving at Napoli, Marek Hamsik will undoubtedly be the man in attack, though. He has an eye for goal, but is not selfish, as his play in the central midfield role will be key for most if not all of Slovakia’s attacking buildups. Hamsik will be feeding Sestak who has, despite relegation, led VFL Bochum in scoring this season.

Another strength of the squad is coach Vladimir Weiss, who has the utmost support from players and fans, while leading a young squad to their first World Cup.

Although some may consider this a weakness, the fact that this will be Slovakia’s first time on the big stage will play to their advantage, especially considering first game jitters will be discarded after the New Zealand game.

The Slovaks' defense can look spotty at times, giving up the third most goals in their qualifying group. The defense may prove to be an issue against Italy, but against Paraguay, it may not be as much of a factor since Paraguay had trouble putting the ball in the opposing net during their qualifying campaign.

It Would Be a Great World Cup If…

Nobody should underestimate the talent in the Slovak squad, but considering that they are debutantes, a round of sixteen appearance would be a success. A world class talent in Marek Hamsik combined with the youthful spirit from the squad could definitely inspire Slovakia to the second round.

With the defense seemingly suspect, if Martin Skrtel could effectively lead the backline and Vladimir Weiss successfully organize the squad (combined with a bit of luck), the Slovaks could even reach the quarterfinals.

It Would Be a Disaster If…

Slovakia’s inexperience catches up to them, and they crash out of the group stage with less than three points. New Zealand is not the most formidable of opponents and that match should not result in less than three points. While Slovakia will not be a pushover for Italy, the defending champions have to be considered favorites. Many believe Paraguay will finish second, especially with the Salvador Cabañas incident fueling team spirit.

My Prediction

It is difficult to predict how a young squad will act on the world’s largest soccer stage, but I do see Slovakia reaching the round of sixteen.

Coach Weiss will organize and motivate the young guns, while the absence of Cabañas in the grudge match of Group F will bail out the Slovak defense and play to the advantage of the creative Slovak attacking core.