Group F contains the defending World Champions and buyers of Italy s outright index at 29-32pts (winner: 100pts; runner-up: 75pts; losing semi-finalist: 50pts, losing quarter-finalist: 25pts; last 16: 10pts; others: 0pts), will be aware of the team s excellent record in the finals.
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The Azzurri already have four World Cups to their name and have far more experience in big cup competitions that their group rivals. With that in mind the Sporting Index traders have installed the Italians are spread favourites on the Group F Index at 19-20.5 points (25pts to the winner, 10pts to runner-up and 5pts to third-place).
Buyers of their group index will know that the side rely on their defensive strengths, which includes the ever-impressive Gianluigi Buffon. With such a solid backline they have been able to rely on the odd goal to get them through important matches and spread buyers of their match goals will be interested to know that the 2006 winning side only scored 11 goals in normal time on their way to the trophy.
Those brave enough to sell the Italian s group index will have noted some of their 2009 results. Their recent record includes a 3-0 loss to Brazil in the Confederations Cup and two close run victories against New Zealand (4-3) and Cyprus (3-2). Sellers will be banking on the side repeating some of these less than spectacular defensive performances, although Italy still won nine, drew four and only lost twice in 2009.
Paraguay, with a spread of 10.5-12, are the second favourites on the Group F Index. Managed by Gerardo Martino, they started their qualification campaign in great form and were actually top of the South American table. Spread bettors debating whether to sell their group index will be pleased however to discover that the team lost six matches in 2009, winning just four and drawing two.
The last time the Paraguayans were at a World Cup was back in 2002, when they scraped into the second round on goals scored over this year s hosts. A concern for buyers of their match supremacy spread during the finals will be that the side have proven less productive in front of goal of late. Spread buyers of total goals in their group fixtures should be aware that they did not score more than two in any match in the whole of the qualifying stage. But on the other hand Paraguay s defence never allowed a side to score more than two against them in the same period.
It is the first time Slovakia have qualified for the World Cup finals as an independent nation, but they ve done so eight times as part of Czechoslovakia. Spread punters that have sold the group win index, at 6.5, will have seen the side s results in 2009 weren t great. They won on five occasions, drew two and lost four. However, buyers will be quick to point out that Vladimir Weiss s side piped the Czech Republic and Slovenia to first place in their qualification group.
New Zealand s second appearance in the World Cup finals came courtesy of a 1-0 play-off victory against Bahrain. The All White s Group F Index can be bought at 2.5 and their record in 2009 suggests why. New Zealand won just twice, drew three times and lost five matches on their route to South Africa.
