Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia

The reigning world champions shouldn't break into too much of a sweat so the denizens of Soho can expect Bar Italia to be brimming well beyond the group stages. Slovakia, making their tournament debut, will fight it out with New Zealand for the wooden spoon.

Monday 14 June, 7.30pm: Italy v Paraguay
Tuesday 15 June, 12.30pm: New Zealand v Slovakia
Sunday 20 June, 12.30pm: Slovakia v Paraguay
Sunday 20 June, 3pm: Italy v New Zealand
Thursday 24 June, 3pm: Slovakia v Italy
Thursday 24 June, 3pm: Paraguay v New Zealand

LondonTown top two prediction: Italy & Paraguay

Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia

Italy - Current World Champions

So many people flocked to Soho's Bar Italia in 2006 to watch Italy beat France in the final that Frith Street had to be completely closed to traffic due to the overspill. It's no surprise: the actual bar is pretty tiny and usually filled with regulars. For those lucky enough to get inside Bar Italia, there's a big screen at the end of the deep and narrow Soho institution, which is open practically 24 hours. The interior of this bar could have been shipped lock, stock and barrel from any town in Italy with its polished, stainless steel counter, hams, salamis and strip lighting. Most people have to settle for outside, where hundreds gathered last time round to roar with delight when Zinedine Zidane was sent off for headbutting Marco Materazzi in the chest. The funny thing is that there is but one small TV screen facing outwards in the bar's window - but this didn't deter a sea of blue congregating to cheer on the Azzurri. For a great communal atmosphere, nothing can quite match Bar Italia - but if you go, don't expect to get a perfect view of the action and keep your fingers crossed for good weather. Given the opposition, Marcello Lippi's side will be overwhelming favourites to qualify first in their group so Soho can expect quite some disruption this June and, possibly, July. If too busy, you can always try Marino's, a Juventus-supporting Italian bar/restaurant near Tottenham Court Road, which regularly shows Serie A fixtures, or Italia Uno, a bit further up the road on Charlotte Street.

Monday 14 June, 7.30pm: Italy v Paraguay
Sunday 20 June, 3pm: Italy v New Zealand
Thursday 24 June, 3pm: Slovakia v Italy

Paraguay

There aren't many Paraguayans in London but those in the know will head to Nueva Costa Dorada, a Spanish tapas bar in a side street off Tottenham Court Road, for their nation's group games. Clara Sanchez, Dorada's Paraguayan owner, holds an Independence Day party for London's small Paraguayan community every year in May and she tries to replicate the party atmosphere every four years when the World Cup comes round (in 2006 it was extra special because the South Americans were drawn in England's group). Paraguay, who boast Manchester City's Roque Santa Cruz amongst their arsenal, have never won more than one game in a single World Cup but the Albirroja will have high hopes they can pip both Slovakia and New Zealand to progress with likely group winners Italy into the last 16. Dorada is a lively place, with a well-stocked bar, live flamenco shows throughout the week and tapas served by the metre (12 varieties costs a reasonable £40). For more information go to www.costadoradarestaurant.co.uk.

Monday 14 June, 7.30pm: Italy v Paraguay
Sunday 20 June, 12.30pm: Slovakia v Paraguay
Thursday 24 June, 3pm: Paraguay v New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand and football don't often go hand in hand - the All Whites have only qualified once before for the World Cup, back in 1982 - but New Zealanders are a competitive lot and so will jump at any chance of getting together and bonding over a team sport. The Southerner pub, a laid-back sports-heavy place in Temple, is proving a regular haunt for Kiwis and is London's only pub offering all five varieties of New Zealand's favourite beer (Speight's) on tap. The story of how Speight's beer was brought to London is quite a special one: back in 2007 the brewery sent over a custom-built wooden Speight's Bar on a boat on a 76-day voyage that went half way the world from Dunedin to London, via Samoa, Panama, the Bahamas and New York. The bar spend a couple of weeks at Canary Wharf before finding a six-month residency above the Walkabout at Temple. Its closure was no surprise - the place became so popular and yet had no toilets - but Speight's made a promise to return to London with a more permanent venture. In the mean time, they took residency at the nearby Hemisphere Bar, changing its name to the Southerner. With its multiple TV screens and popular following, the Southerner is the place to watch New Zealand get hammered by Italy this summer...

Tuesday 15 June, 12.30pm: New Zealand v Slovakia
Sunday 20 June, 3pm: Italy v New Zealand
Thursday 24 June, 3pm: Paraguay v New Zealand

Slovakia

Bringing a bit of Bratislava to north London, the Czech & Slovak Club should prove an intimate place to gather amongst the natives and watch Slovakia make their World Cup debut in South Africa. This is the first time in four attempts that Slovakia have qualified for the knock-out stages of the world's biggest football event so there should be a good atmosphere at the CSC in West Hampstead. The bar serves famous Czech beers Pilsner Urquell and Budweiser Budvar, while the restaurant offers delicacies such as goulash, pork knuckle, roast goose and schnitzels. The place is basically set in a house and so the atmosphere is very homely and intimate, and individual rooms can be hired. At the other end of town, the Tatran Slovak Delicatessen at Streatham may not be showing the games, but they'll certainly have a suggestion as to where you can watch the Slovakian players make history for their country.

Tuesday 15 June, 12.30pm: New Zealand v Slovakia
Sunday 20 June, 12.30pm: Slovakia v Paraguay
Thursday 24 June, 3pm: Slovakia v Italy