Reigning champions Italy were knocked out of the World Cup on Thursday as they slumped to a sensational 3-2 defeat to unheralded Slovakia in an Ellis Park thriller.
Robert Vittek scored a brace to put the Slovaks in control and Kamil Kopunek added a late third either side of Antonio Di Natale and Fabio Quagliarella strikes in a frantic finish.
Slovakia join Paraguay in the last 16 from Group F after a thoroughly deserved victory in a game which summed up Italy’s lacklustre campaign.
The defeat also meant Italy suffered the extra humiliation of finishing bottom of the group, which was won by Paraguay, with even New Zealand ahead of them in third spot, who drew 0-0 with Paraguay and exit the tournament depsite being unbeaten in three games.
Italy started brightly with a couple of half chances as Di Natale, making his first start in the competition, tried a speculative long range volley, which sailed over, while Vincenzo Iaquinta screwed a shot wastefully wide with his left foot.
However, the Italians went behind for the third game in a row as Juraj Kucka cut out a poor Daniele De Rossi pass deep in Italian territory and fed Vittek who rifled home low and hard from the edge of the box.
Zdenek Srba then forced Italy goalkeeper Federico Marchetti into a sprawling save with a surprise shot from distance.
However, Liverpool centre-back Martin Skrtel almost headed into his own goal from De Rossi’s deep ball into the box.
The half finished with Kucka lashing a stunning volley an inch wide of the post as Italy failed to get any foothold in the game.
The Azzurri finally opened up the Slovak defence on 55 minutes as substitute Christian Maggio slipped in Di Natale but on the turn he shanked his shot wide.
A minute later Lippi rolled his last throw of the dice as he brought Andrea Pirlo on for Riccardo Montolivo for the AC Milan star’s first appearance in South Africa.
Di Natale tried a curler from the edge of the box that goalkeeper Jan Mucha dealt with competently while Maggio had to get back to stop Miroslav Stoch getting a clear run on goal.
Italy were then a whisker away from equalising as Skrtel blocked Quagliarella’s shot on the line with his knee.
Stoch then had a chance to finish things on the counter but he blazed wide as if anything, Slovakia were looking the more likely to score.
And so it proved on 73 minutes as Vittek grabbed his second as he stole into the near post to convert Hamsik’s cross.
But that sparked a crazy finish to the game.
Nine minutes from time Italy scored with a brilliantly worked goal as Quagliarella played a one-two with Iaquinta and although Mucha saved his shot, Di Natale swept home the loose ball.
That prompted an ugly melee in the net with Quagliarella and Mucha booked.
Quagliarella then had a goal rightly ruled out for offside before substitute Kopunek bagged the third with his first touch.
In a tense conclusion, Quagliarella scored with a delightful chip but it was too late to save the ageing champions.
Re-live the thrilling climax to Group F as it happened with Tony Tannous’ detailed analysis HERE.
Greg Russell
Roar Guru
The nicest thing one can say about the Italians is that they will be more missed than the French. One huge compliment though: to Marcello Lippo. He fronted the world's media and said "When a team plays so badly, the coach has to take the blame. I take full responsibility for what has happened." What a great man. No wonder his players love him and no wonder he is so hugely respected by football-knowledgeable people everywhere. I realize it would be the longest of long-shots, but if FFA is really determined that the next Socceroo coach will be from the 31 other coaches at this World Cup, then they could do worse than at least put out a feeler out to Lippi. The irony is that it isn't really Lippi's fault. He had injuries to key men such as Pirlo and Buffon, and Tony Tannous explained the other day that Lippi had done well in his attempts to rejuvenate the Italian side. But really it's because of the broader problems in the game, which are nothing to do with Lippi. Paul Breitner (a World Cup winner from 1974) delivered a stinging critique of Italian football on German TV on Sunday night. That was only after the match against New Zealand. He said that Italian stadia are old and decrepit (something I can verify from recently being a tourist in Italy). Added to this there are racism and violence problems on the terraces. The crowds are staying away. Juve celeberate when they get a crowd of 20,000 nowadays. There are few young Italian players coming through. Their under-age sides have been playing poorly. Most Italian sides are faring badly in European competitions, and the exceptions, Inter Milan and AC Milan, are full of foreign players. The Inter team that won this year's Champions League had not one single Italian player until Materazzi was subbed on in the 92nd minute. Italian football has not kept up with tactical developments in the game in recent years. And so on, and so on. "Regardless of what happens at this tournament," Breitner predicted, "there are tough times ahead for Italian football." It seems the tough times have arrived sooner than expected. Italy had a group they should have been able to sleepwalk through, and yet they find themselves in last place behind even the mighty All Whites. Breitner's remedy for Italian football was simple: they need to host either a Euro Championship or World Championship. He said Platini knows this. Hosting would force them to modernize their stadia, and would bring the people back. It would bring energy back to their game. Anyone who has been to the major European nations would appreciate that in Italy the sport of football is especially dear to the hearts of the people. Not just Italy but also world football needs things to be healthier in Italian football.
Scott minto
Guest
That Italian fellow should be embarresed after his carry on in the slovakian goal. He initiated The scuffle then fell over clutching his face and kicking his legs like a child having a tantrum
Harry
Guest
Congratulations the All Whites on a great display. Good to see the Divers go out.
Mega
Guest
Both finalists from four years ago out in the group stage. Neither looked with it. Well done to the Kiwis though.