Group F: Minnows N Zealand satisfied

WELLINGTON: Soccer minnows New Zealand, drawn against defending champions Italy, expressed a measure of confidence in their World Cup prospects - taking satisfaction from who they are not playing.

New Zealand, who will play all three of their Group F games at high altitude in the northeast of South Africa, have been drawn against Italy, Slovakia and Paraguay. The way the draw was set up meant France, Portugal and Cote d'Ivoire were the teams most countries did not want in their groups, and fortune favored New Zealand.

"We would have wanted to avoid France and Portugal as the non-seeded teams," coach Ricki Herbert said.