JOHANNESBURG - Holders Italy were sensationally dumped out of the World Cup by Slovakia on Thursday to join fellow European power France in a humiliating and unprecedented first-round exit for the two previous finalists.
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 Slovakia's Kamil Kopunek (R) celebrates after scoring a goal with team mates during the 2010 World Cup Group F soccer match against Italy at Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg June 24, 2010. [Photo/Agencies] |
In one of the most memorable World Cup upsets 34th-ranked Slovakia, appearing for the first time as an independent nation, stunned the ageing Azzurri 3-2 to reach the second round together with Paraguay in Group F.
After a thrilling end-to-end match, the Slovakians danced for joy at the final whistle while the Italians, many too old to play in another World Cup, fell to their knees in disbelief.
Striker Robert Vittek scored in both halves for Slovakia, while Kamil Kopunek added the third in the 89th minute, setting off on a celebratory run to his bench that will be one of the abiding images of the World Cup whatever happens now.
A shadow of the side that lifted the trophy in 2006, Italy nevertheless showed plenty of spirit in the second half, twice pulling goals back and then frantically peppering the Slovakian penalty area to no avail in the final minutes.
"We played with our hearts and that's what decided the match today," Vittek said. "We couldn't have dreamt about this."
The amazing defeat brought a sad end to Marcello Lippi's time as Italy coach plus the international careers of Fabio Cannavaro and Gennaro Gattuso after the trio said this would be their last tournament with the national side.
PARAGUAY FLY LATIN FLAG
Paraguay did not show the fire and flair that has characterised Latin American teams' showing in the tournament so far. Yet their forgettable 0-0 draw with New Zealand in the other Group F match was enough to leave them top of the group.
The All Whites exit with heads high after three draws in a World Cup where many had forecast they would be whipping boys.
Italy's failure, including two earlier draws prior to Thursday's loss, follows the spectacular flop of 2006 runners-up France. Never before have two previous finalists gone out in the first stage of the next tournament.
France's team arrived home on Thursday to national disgust at both their performance -- one draw and two defeats -- and an unseemly players' revolt over Nicolas Anelka's expulsion.
So traumatic was France's failure that President Nicolas Sarkozy has ordered a shake-up of French soccer and met team captain Thierry Henry as soon as he arrived back.
In Thursday's late games, Netherlands, who have looked solid if not inspired, are already through in Group E and will play a meaningless tie against Cameroon who are out.
Japan and Denmark play in the group's other match, where the Danes must win but the Asians need only a draw.
GREAT GAMES TO COME
With the group stages being wrapped up, some mouth-watering second round fixtures are emerging.
Germany face old rivals England on Sunday.
In 31 encounters stretching back to 1908, the Germans have won 10 times, drawn six and lost 15. "The joy of preparing for (the) England match is huge," German coach Joachim Loew said.
England have hardly looked world-beaters, but confidence is rising after they beat Slovenia 1-0 to secure passage.
"It starts here -- it's a knockout. How you played in the group doesn't mean anything," midfielder Frank Lampard said.
Argentina's coach Diego Maradona is ecstatic at his free-flowing team's perfect start with three wins out of three. They face slick-passing Mexico in the last 16 on Sunday.
Maradona has revealed he takes inspiration from one of the world's most successful club managers: Jose Mourinho.
"I've got his phone number, I might call him," he said, adding the pair had spent hours in the past discussing tactics.
Maradona, who famously guided Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986 believes the jewel in his crown -- world player of the year Lionel Messi -- could just emulate his feat.
"Leo is ready to go out onto a pitch and leave it with the crown," the infectiously enthusiastic coach said, also praising his "thrilling" striker Carlos Tevez. "I love my team."
Of six African nations in the continent's first World Cup, four are out, Ivory Coast need a miracle to qualify from their group, and only Ghana have guaranteed a second round berth.
Ivory Coast striker Salomon Kalou said the raised expectations of playing on home soil had hurt the Africans.
"Expectations were huge and we owed it to ourselves to perform well, but the pressure has caused us more stress than anything else and even inhibited our talents," he said.
