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Lippi wary of taking group too easily

Italy coach Marcello Lippi sounded a warning to celebrating Italians after the reigning world champions were on Friday given what looked an easy draw in the World Cup.

Italy were grouped alongside debutants Slovakia, outsiders New Zealand and South Americans Paraguay in Group F.

But while that looks to be one of the weakest pools in the whole draw, Lippi warned that it would be dangerous to start thinking along those lines.

“The more you think a group will be easy the more difficult it becomes,” he said.

“Paraguay were top of the South American qualifying group for a long time before being overtaken by Brazil at the end.

“Slovakia are improving, they have players we know well, also some who play in Italy and they beat some good teams to get here.

“I’m neither satisfied nor upset. We will start to assess our opponents and their characteristics.

“They are all difficult opponents but then we will also cast an eye on the (possible) second round and quarter-final (opponents).”

However, while Lippi urged caution, Italian pundits were less reserved in their reactions.

On Sky Sport’s live televised coverage of the draw their commentators openly laughed and celebrated as each of Italy’s opponents was read out.

And former Chelsea manager and now TV pundit Gianluca Vialli said this was a group from which Italy should expect to progress.

“It’s a very manageable group but these are teams who will be going to the World Cup expecting to play three matches whereas Italy are going there hoping to play seven games, so we have to be very careful,” he said.

Slovakia actually topped a qualifying group including Slovenia, Poland and Czech Republic while Paraguay were only pipped by Brazil in South American qualifying.

New Zealand’s Oceania campaign was simple but then they had to negotiate a tricky two-legged play-off against Bahrain.

Paraguay are expected to be Italy’s toughest opponents with Brazil coach Dunga, who lifted the World Cup as a player in 1994 in the United States when Italy were beaten on penalties in the final, told the reigning champions to watch out.

“Italy’s group is not easy, Paraguay are a very solid team. They did very well during qualification, Italy will have to be careful,” he told Rai TV.

Italy begin their campaign against Paraguay in Cape Town on June 14 and the South Americans’ Argentine coach Gerardo Martino admitted that would be his team’s toughest encounter.

“Playing the first match against the reigning champions will of course be difficult but we’re confident that we will be well prepared enough to put up a fight not only in this match the also the others,” he said.

Underdogs New Zealand gave Italy a fright in a pre-Confederations Cup friendly in Pretoria a year ago before going down 4-3 and assistant coach Brian Turner says that has given them belief.

“We took a lot of confidence out of that game. We took the game to Italy but at the end of the day Italy were still too good, they’re a football power,” he said.

“But we’re delighted with the group we’re in and we’re delighted to be with Italy.”

ROME (AFP)

Tags: Argentine, bahrain, brazil, Brian Turner, cape town, CHELSEA, coach marcello lippi, commentators, czech republic, debutants, dunga, F. But, Gerardo Martino, italians, italy coach, marcello lippi, New Zealand, opponents, outsiders, paraguay, play seven, play three, Poland, pretoria, pundits, qualifying group, ROME, seven games, Sky Sport, South American, South Americans, United States, vialli, world champions, World Cup

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Taylor salvages a point for struggling Newcastle

HULL, England (AFP) – Newcastle remain deep in relegation trouble despite salvaging a 1-1 draw at Hull on Saturday.

Only goal difference is keeping Newcastle outside the relegation zone after Magpies defender Steven Taylor cancelled out Geovanni’s early opener at the KC Stadium.

Newcastle, with manager Joe Kinnear still recovering from a triple heart bypass operation, have won just one of their last 11 league matches and sit two places above the bottom three.

There was a pre-match boost for Newcastle as England striker Michael Owen returned after five games out with an ankle injury.

But it was Hull who made the more lively start. The Tigers took the lead in the ninth minute through Geovanni after an inspired run from deep inside his own half by the former Barcelona player.

He picked up possession after a Newcastle attack broke down and burst forward to set Craig Fagan free down the left.

He then continued his run into the box and Fagan picked him out with an excellent cross which dipped over Sebastien Bassong. Geovanni headed firmly past Steve Harper for his seventh goal of the campaign but his first since November.

Newcastle responded through an effort from Obafemi Martins, who whipped a shot just over from inside the box.

Fagan, whose leg was broken in the reverse fixture last September, was booked for confronting Taylor following a clash between the pair.

Geovanni won a free-kick on the edge of the area after being clipped by Geremi and his curling effort was narrowly off-target.

Newcastle levelled against the run of play seven minutes before half-time when Butt crossed and Taylor flicked a volley over Matt Duke.

Daniel Cousin had a chance to restore Hull’s lead before the break but shot well wide.

Martins had a good chance on the volley soon after half-time but Hull skipper Ian Ashbee blocked.

Hull substitute Manucho, on at the break, was quickly into the action and forced Harper to save low down after being fed by Bernard Mendy.

A good run by Geremi then allowed Martins to set up Jonas Gutierrez but the Argentinian curled his effort over.

Newcastle switched off again and Mendy should have punished them after breaking clear down the right.

Manucho was unmarked in the box but the Frenchman badly mishit his cross and a relieved Harper was able to gather.

It proved to be a quiet return for Owen and after 72 ineffective minutes he was withdrawn by caretaker boss Chris Hughton.

Written by: AFP

Tags: ankle injury, ashbee, Barcelona, bernard mendy, daniel cousin, England, English Premier League, fagan, geovanni, geremi, goal difference, heart bypass operation, HULL, hull england, joe kinnear, kc stadium, magpies, michael owen, NEWCASTLE, play seven, relegation zone, Sebastien Bassong, steve harper, steven taylor, target, triple heart bypass

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