Soccer: Pressure to perform rests with the reigning world champions

Simon Elliott shows his fighting qualities against Slovakia. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The pressure is on Italy's strikers to find the target when the world champions play the minnow All Whites on Monday.

The New Zealand defence, marshalled by Ryan Nelsen, has faced plenty of pressure in the qualifiers against Bahrain, the World Cup lead-up matches, and in this week's historic draw against Slovakia.

But they have proved remarkably resilient, and while Mark Paston has had to make the odd save - including the heroics against Bahrain - they have kept more fancied opponents at bay.

Italian centre-back Giorgio Chiellini was reluctant to give his strikers advice when questioned at his team's base in Pretoria after the Azzurri's initial one-all draw with Paraguay in Cape Town.

"Maybe they need to take more shots though," he said. "And we have to create more chances. We have got to play a more compact game to shorten the passes between defence, midfield and attack."

On New Zealand, he said: "They're very physical.

"We played them in a friendly last year, they're very dangerous in the air and from set pieces.

"But everyone knows that we should win. We have to give away as little as possible and keep the ball on the ground rather than playing long balls. We must risk as little as possible giving away free kicks.

"It won't be easy but with all the respect we owe our opponents, we should win. We will be in trouble if we don't. I don't even want to think about the possibility of a draw or something else."

The All Whites are talking tough, as every team is duty bound to do, saying there was plenty of belief within the camp.

Midfielder Simon Elliott said: "You don't say too much about it outside the group but you have to believe in what you are doing and what your teammates are capable of - it should be a given with every team you are in.

"But there is something here with this team that people can't quite put their finger on, and that's a great thing to have. Call it X-factor or what you will.

"We could go out, play well, and lose. You just don't know. All we can do is work hard and keep things going."

Striker Chris Killen said: "It was a good performance from us against Slovakia but not a great one. We can do better than that."

The All Whites are almost certain to field the same lineup. Italy will likely be without their legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who injured his back during the Paraguay match.