Italy have been dumped out of the 2010 World Cup first round after losing 3-2 to a battling Slovakia side in Group F. Slovakia, making their first World Cup appearace, go through as runners-up to group leaders Paraguay, who held New Zealand to a goalless draw in the other game. Robert Vittek gave Slovakia a two-goal lead before Antonio Di Natale had pulled one back for Italy ten minutes from time. But Slovakia substitute Kamil Kopunek netted the crucial killer one minute from the end as Fabio Quagliarella superbly added another for the Azzurri in injury time. Holders Italy finish bottom of the group with two points as New Zealand came ahead of them on three. Vittek stunner Marcello Lippi had the fit-again Andrea Pirlo on the bench, handing a first start to Gennaro Gattuso, who was one of the pillars of the team in 2006, but Rhino's inclusion has hardly helped as Slovakia looked much brighter. On 24 minutes, the World Cup debutants stunned the champions when De Rossi cheaply gave the ball away to Juraj Kucka, who fed Vittek with a little pass to dispatch home past Federico Marchetti. Surprisingly, the Slovaks remained in charge of the game as Italy couldn't make a single attempt on Jan Mucha's goal in the first half. The best Italy chance came in the 40th minute when Martin Skrtel almost sent the ball into his own net following a Gattuso cross. Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro was lucky to stay on the pitch after he shoved Marek Hamsik when he was already on a yellow card.
Vittek sends Italy home It was all quiet in Polokwane as Paraguay seemed happy with the draw to New Zealand at this point. Absolute drama ! Lippi made two changes to his out-of-sorts side at half-time, brining in Christian Maggio and Quagliarella for Domenico Criscito and Gattuso. Ten minutes after the interval, Pirlo finally came on to replace Ricardo Montolivo. But it was Quagliarella who was the most lively among Italy's sluggish eleven and the Napoli star was denied by a fantastic goal-line clearance from Skrtel on 67 minutes. Despite the threat, Italy were a shambles at defense and on 74 minutes, Vittek stroke again, slotting home a low Hamsik cross from close range. Italy looked in danger of conceding an embarrassing third, but against the run of play, they pulled one back when Di Natale hit an empty net after Mucha blocked Quagliarella's effort. Italy ventured forward and Quagliarella though he had scored the all-important equalizer on 84 minutes, but his goal was ruled out for an offside. Two minutes later, substitute Kopunek sent the Italians packing when he scored the third, lobbing the below-par Marchetti from six yards out. But Quagliarella made sure the tension remains when he scored in injury time; an exquisite lob from 20 yards out that could well stand as a goal-of-the-tournament contender. It was stalemate in Polokwane as Slovakia accompanied Paraguay to the knockouts.
