Holders Italy sent crashing out
Reigning champions Italy crashed out of the World Cup, losing 3-2 to Slovakia, who reached the last-16 along with Paraguay.
Reigning champions Italy crashed out of the World Cup, losing 3-2 to Slovakia, who reached the last-16 along with Paraguay who drew 0-0 with Group F rivals New Zealand.
Robert Vittek was Slovakia’s hero with two goals before Kamil Kopunek’s clincher against a poor Italian side who finished bottom of the group and for whom Antonio Di Natale and Fabio Quagliarella netted consolation strikes.
Paraguay topped the group after their stalemate with New Zealand left them on five points to four points for the Slovaks, who are appearing in their first finals as a separate country.
Italy’s demise - and the added humiliation of finishing bottom of the group - was the first time since 2002 that the World Cup holders failed to get through the group stage.
In a dramatic match at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, Vittek’s first goal came when he ran onto Juraj Kucka’s pass and rifled the ball home hard and low from the edge of the box after 25 minutes.
The Slovak striker pounced again in the 73rd minute, knocking in a cross. Slovak defender Martin Skrtel stopped a shot on the line, but some of the Italian players argued the ball had crossed the line.
Di Natale pulled Italy back into the match nine minutes before the end and, in a frantic finish, Quagliarella had the ball in the net from close range, but it was disallowed for offside.
Kamil Kopunek lobbed Italian ‘keeper Federico Marchetti five minutes before the final whistle to make it 3-1, but Quagliarella’s long-range shot gave Italy hope before the Slovaks were sent into wild celebrations at the end.
Paraguay top group after stalemate
Paraguay topped Group F after a drab 0-0 draw with surprise packets New Zealand.
The polished South Americans who harbour dreams of at least a quarter-finals place ended with five points and were joined in the round of 16 by Slovakia.
It was a gallant exit by New Zealand, who finished unbeaten after three draws in a group where they were expected to be cannon fodder for the other three contenders but ended up finishing above the woeful Italians.
Paraguay made three changes from the team that outclassed Slovakia 2-0 with defenders Denis Caniza and Julio Cesar Caceres and striker Oscar Cardozo coming in. New Zealand stood by the team that started drawn matches against Slovakia and defending champions Italy.
Victor Caceres was cautioned by the referee for fouling Rory Fallon during scrappy early exchanges with rival players constantly moaning about the behaviour of their markers.
Goalmouth action was scarce in perfect, clear mid-afternoon conditions at Peter Mokaba Stadium during the last World Cup fixture at the purpose-built ground in the northern city.
It took 62 minutes to get a corner and Paraguay almost took the lead from it as Paston did well to parry a glancing Cristian Riveros header and the ball was cleared after a fierce goalmouth scramble. In the end, it mattered little to both teams.
RECORD
Italy, France make unwanted history
Italy and France’s miserable World Cup campaigns were complete as they became the first finalists from the previous World Cup to exit at the first hurdle of the following one. Champions Italy were eliminated after a stunning 3-2 defeat by Slovakia, and even finished bottom of the group below the rank outsiders New Zealand.
France, who lost on penalties to Italy in the final in 2006, had exited on a suitably low note on Tuesday, bottom of their group like Italy, with a 2-1 defeat by South Africa.
Italy coach Marcello Lippi
“If a team turns up to such an important tournament with terror in their heads, hearts and they fail to express themselves, then it means that the coach didn’t prepare it well. I thought this team would do well, but I’ve not prepared them well.”
Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino
“We played very badly in the first half and we played better in the second half. I’m pleased with the qualification but not with the way we played. We had a lot of problems in an area where we didn’t expect, and that was in attack.”
NZ coach Ricki Herbert
“I think I need to pinch myself. If you’re going to exit the World Cup there are good ways of doing it. A lot of people thought we shouldn’t be here and that we had amateurs who weren’t up to it. But I think that’s dead and buried now.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 25th, 2010.
Robert Vittek was Slovakia’s hero with two goals before Kamil Kopunek’s clincher against a poor Italian side who finished bottom of the group and for whom Antonio Di Natale and Fabio Quagliarella netted consolation strikes.
Paraguay topped the group after their stalemate with New Zealand left them on five points to four points for the Slovaks, who are appearing in their first finals as a separate country.
Italy’s demise - and the added humiliation of finishing bottom of the group - was the first time since 2002 that the World Cup holders failed to get through the group stage.
In a dramatic match at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, Vittek’s first goal came when he ran onto Juraj Kucka’s pass and rifled the ball home hard and low from the edge of the box after 25 minutes.
The Slovak striker pounced again in the 73rd minute, knocking in a cross. Slovak defender Martin Skrtel stopped a shot on the line, but some of the Italian players argued the ball had crossed the line.
Di Natale pulled Italy back into the match nine minutes before the end and, in a frantic finish, Quagliarella had the ball in the net from close range, but it was disallowed for offside.
Kamil Kopunek lobbed Italian ‘keeper Federico Marchetti five minutes before the final whistle to make it 3-1, but Quagliarella’s long-range shot gave Italy hope before the Slovaks were sent into wild celebrations at the end.
Paraguay top group after stalemate
Paraguay topped Group F after a drab 0-0 draw with surprise packets New Zealand.
The polished South Americans who harbour dreams of at least a quarter-finals place ended with five points and were joined in the round of 16 by Slovakia.
It was a gallant exit by New Zealand, who finished unbeaten after three draws in a group where they were expected to be cannon fodder for the other three contenders but ended up finishing above the woeful Italians.
Paraguay made three changes from the team that outclassed Slovakia 2-0 with defenders Denis Caniza and Julio Cesar Caceres and striker Oscar Cardozo coming in. New Zealand stood by the team that started drawn matches against Slovakia and defending champions Italy.
Victor Caceres was cautioned by the referee for fouling Rory Fallon during scrappy early exchanges with rival players constantly moaning about the behaviour of their markers.
Goalmouth action was scarce in perfect, clear mid-afternoon conditions at Peter Mokaba Stadium during the last World Cup fixture at the purpose-built ground in the northern city.
It took 62 minutes to get a corner and Paraguay almost took the lead from it as Paston did well to parry a glancing Cristian Riveros header and the ball was cleared after a fierce goalmouth scramble. In the end, it mattered little to both teams.
RECORD
Italy, France make unwanted history
Italy and France’s miserable World Cup campaigns were complete as they became the first finalists from the previous World Cup to exit at the first hurdle of the following one. Champions Italy were eliminated after a stunning 3-2 defeat by Slovakia, and even finished bottom of the group below the rank outsiders New Zealand.
France, who lost on penalties to Italy in the final in 2006, had exited on a suitably low note on Tuesday, bottom of their group like Italy, with a 2-1 defeat by South Africa.
Italy coach Marcello Lippi
“If a team turns up to such an important tournament with terror in their heads, hearts and they fail to express themselves, then it means that the coach didn’t prepare it well. I thought this team would do well, but I’ve not prepared them well.”
Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino
“We played very badly in the first half and we played better in the second half. I’m pleased with the qualification but not with the way we played. We had a lot of problems in an area where we didn’t expect, and that was in attack.”
NZ coach Ricki Herbert
“I think I need to pinch myself. If you’re going to exit the World Cup there are good ways of doing it. A lot of people thought we shouldn’t be here and that we had amateurs who weren’t up to it. But I think that’s dead and buried now.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 25th, 2010.