Fred de Jong: Pluck and luck keys to success

The All Whites' World Cup adventure has begun. The team leaves for Melbourne today and plays Australia on Monday, but let's look further ahead to their opponents in South Africa.

Certainly the World Cup draw was kind to them. Italy are soccer royalty but their other Group F opponents, Slovakia and Paraguay, are much more tradesmanlike.

First up, Slovakia on June 15 in Rustenburg. Slovakia make their World Cup debut but don't be fooled into thinking they're easy-beats. Re-established after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993, Slovakia retains much of the soccer pedigree of the former communist state. When touring Czechoslovakia I saw coaching and a style built on technical excellence and intense repetition. Although the political and economic landscape have changed radically, I wonder if much has changed in the way young players are developed. In the Slovakia team, Marek Hamsik of Napoli is a genuine world-class midfielder. He'll be supported by Martin Skrtel of Liverpool and the top scorer in qualifying, Stanislav Sestak from VFL Bochum in the German Bundesliga. Many of Slovakia's better players are their youngsters so the Kiwis will hope the occasion gets the better of the World Cup debutantes.

Next stop will be Italy in Nelspruit. Forget the 4-3 loss in the pre-Confederations Cup friendly last year. Italy won't be so generous when it really counts. Names like Buffon, Cannavaro, Gattuso, Pirlo and Gilardino roll beautifully off the tongue and have the quality to match. Ageing but clinical, Italy will be too strong for the All Whites but don't expect a cricket score. Italy will do enough to win, preserving energy for later in the tournament.

Then Paraguay, La Albirroja, qualified third from South America behind Brazil and Chile, but ahead of Argentina and Uruguay. This proves they have enough quality to really trouble the All Whites. Coach Gerardo Martino would like to play a much more attacking style than previous Paraguayan teams. However, this may not be possible since the loss of key striker, Salvador Cabanas, still recovering from a gunshot wound in January. His loss will put added responsibility on Ryan Nelsen's former teammate, striker Roque Santa Cruz.

So what are the All Whites' chances at the World Cup?

You need look no further than Trinidad and Tobago's efforts at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Similarities with the All Whites abound. Both are of similar strength with key players from the English Premier League, both defeated Bahrain by a solitary goal to qualify and both drew similar opponents in the group phase. Trinidad and Tobago came up against Sweden, England and Paraguay. A 0-0 draw against Sweden and consecutive 2-0 losses to England and Paraguay sent them home goalless but not embarrassed.

New Zealand may find themselves on the end of similar results, but will be hoping that team spirit, effort and a pinch of luck will yield more.

Fred de Jong is a former All White