JOHANNESBURG – Holders Italy were dumped out of the World Cup at the group stage on Thursday, joining the humiliation of fellow European power France.
 Italy's Simone Pepe (L) shoots but missed during their 2010 World Cup Group F soccer match against Slovakia at Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg June 24, 2010. [Agencies] |
It marked the first time the winner and runner-up from the previous World Cup had both failed to reach the second round and stunned four times winners Italy who looked shameful and shell-shocked after their miserable tournament.
Both European giants finished bottom in their groups.
Slovakia, appearing for the first time as an independent nation, stunned the aging Azzurri 3-2 to reach the second round together with Paraguay in Group F.
Japan scored a convincing 3-1 win against Denmark in the highest-scoring day of the World Cup so far, with the net bulging 12 times.
Japan, looking the best Asian team, joined Netherlands as the qualifiers from Group E. Cameroon were already out but got a consolation goal before being beaten 2-1 by the Dutch.
The Slovaks danced for joy after a thrilling end-to-end match while the Italians, many too old to play in another World Cup, fell to their knees.
Striker Robert Vittek scored in both halves for Slovakia, and Kamil Kopunek added the third in the 89th minute.
"We played with our hearts and that's what decided the match today," Vittek said. "We couldn't have dreamt about this."
A shadow of the side that lifted the trophy in 2006, Italy staged a late fight-back but lacked enough punch in front of goal.
