Draw, Paraguay Lead Group F

Paraguay secured their place in the second round of the World Cup after an uneventful draw against New Zealand ensured they finished top of Group F.

Gerardo Martino's South Americans will now face the runners-up of Group E, while Slovakia, who stunned world champions Italy 3-2 will face the winners of that group.
At the start of the 90 minutes, New Zealand, ranked 77 in the world, also had the chance of reaching the last 16 but wasted their golden opportunity by failing to trouble Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar even once in the match.

Shots on target could be counted one hand and the best of those came in the second half with Manchester City forward Roque Santa Cruz stinging the hands of All Whites keeper Mark Paston with a 25-yard free-kick.
The former Bradford and Walsall keeper also had to dive low to get a hand to substitute Edgar Benitez's goalbound drive and also push away a header from Cristian Riveros.
The New Zealand keeper probably welcomed the exercise after he was largely inactive in the first half, crouching down just once to prevent Nelson Valdez's 25-yard shot from trickling in.
Other opportunities fell to captain Denis Caniza, who went into the game with only one goal in 97 appearances for the national side. Unsurprisingly, only two of his four long-range efforts caused small concern for Paston.
New Zealand will rue not having made the most of their chance to cause a World Cup sensation.
But three draws from three matches and finishing one place above 2006 tournament winners Italy means the All Whites travel back east from Polokwane with both pride intact and reputation enhanced.

Paraguay	0-0	New Zealand	FT
	(HT 0-0)
Team
Paraguay 01 Villar 03 Morel 04 Caniza 05 J Caceres 14 Da Silva 13 Vera 15 V Caceres 16 Riveros 07 Cardozo (19 Barrios, 66) 09 Santa Cruz 18 Valdez (10 Benitez, 66)		New Zealand 01 Paston 03 Lochhead 04 Reid 06 Nelsen 19 Smith 05 Vicelich 07 Elliott 11 Bertos 09 Smeltz 10 Killen (22 Brockie, 79) 14 Fallon (20 Wood, 69)
12 Barreto, 22 Bobadilla, 02 Veron, 17 Torres, 21 Alcaraz, 06 Bonet, 08 Barreto, 11 Santana, 20 Ortigoza, 10 Benitez, 19 Barrios, 23 Gamarra		Substitutes: 12 Moss, 23 Bannatyne, 02 Sigmund, 17 Mulligan, 18 Boyens, 08 Brown, 13 Barron, 15 McGlinchey, 16 Clapham, 21 Christie, 20 Wood, 22 Brockie
Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium Referee: Y Nishimura Attendance: 34,850

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Beat defending champion Italy, Slovakia escape

Reigning champions Italy were sensationally knocked out of the World Cup by a Slovakia side that clinched a place in the last 16 with victory in a match of incredible drama and tension.

In arguably the best game of the tournament so far, Robert Vittek scored a goal in each half to seemingly end the Azzurri's hopes of defending the trophy they won in Germany four years ago.
But Antonio Di Natale pulled it back to 2-1 with nine minutes remaining, leaving the Italians needing to score again to claim the point that would have seen them scrape through from Group F.

And they thought it had come through substitute Fabio Quagliarella, only for the offside flag to agonisingly deny them.
Italy's hopes of advancing were then seemingly extinguished once and for all when Slovakia substitute Kamil Kopunek exploited defensive hesitation, running onto a throw-in before lifting the ball brilliantly beyond advancing goalkeeper Federico Marchetti with one minute of normal time remaining.
Even then, there was time for Quagliarella to score with a superb injury-time strike and Simone Pepe to scuff a far-post volley as Italy staged a last-ditch attempt to remain in the finals in South Africa.
The win sees Slovakia claim second place behind group winners Paraguay - and ensures the campaign is already a resounding success for coach Vladimir Weiss and his team.
But the 2010 World Cup will be remembered as a disaster for opposite number Marcelo Lippi as his team finish bottom of their group having failed to qualify from the opening stage of the competition for the first time since 1974. Lippi, who guided them to glory in 2006, sees his second spell as coach end in dramatic defeat.
Italy drew with Paraguay and New Zealand before losing to Slovakia, who are ranked 34th in the world, and could have no complaints about the result at Ellis Park after their opponents approached the game with more craft and invention.
The Azzurri conceded just twice in their triumphant campaign four years ago but their central defensive pairing of veteran Fabio Cannavaro and Giorgio Chiellini were opened up numerous times.
Napoli's Marek Hamsik should really have scored for Slovakia after six minutes when he found himself completely unmarked 16 yards from goal, only to mis-cue his volley.
However, there was much to admire in the precision of Slovakia's opening goal after Daniele De Rossi's awful pass gifted possession to Juraj Kucka.
Sparta Prague forward Kucka quickly assessed the situation before playing a superb disguised pass to Vittek, whose accurate low strike from the edge of the area eluded Marchetti.
Italy striker Vincenzo Iaquinta fired wide from a tight angle in reply, while Riccardo Montolivo thrashed a shot over the crossbar in the final attack of a very frustrating opening half for his side.
It could have been an even worse first 45 minutes for the Azzurri as skipper Cannavaro, playing what turned out to be his final game for his country, was perhaps fortunate to escape a booking for a lunge on Hamsik minutes after he had received a caution.
Italy coach Marcello Lippi had seen enough and brought on Christian Maggio and Quagliarella for Domenicio Criscito and Gennaro Gattuso at the break.
And after only 10 minutes of the second half, he played his final card by introducing AC Milan playmaker Andrea Pirlo, so important in 2006, but unable to play any part in their first two matches because of a calf injury.
Italy were effectively playing with a front four, although Pepe and Quagliarella dropped back from their wide positions when Slovakia were in possession.
The tactical switch undoubtedly opened up the game and shortly after Martin Skrtel's sensational, if slightly fortunate, goal-line clearance after a firm strike from Quagliarella, Slovakia doubled their lead.
Chiellini headed a corner clear but as he looked around to adjust his position the alert Vittek made a near-post run that allowed him to steal a march on the Italian and convert Hamsik's low cross.
The contest was by now an end-to-end encounter, and it became heated with some ugly scenes following Di Natale's close-range goal.
Slovakia keeper Jan Mucha tussled with Quagliarella as they both tried to retrieve the ball from the back of the net and after Kucka came to his team-mate's defence, both the Italian and Mucha ended up on the floor.
The goal gave Italy renewed hope but they could not pull themselves level in a thrilling finish which ended with the final whistle which prompted mass celebrations among the Slovakia players.

Slovakia	3-2	Italy	FT
Vittek, 25, 73 Kopunek, 89	(HT 1-0)	Di Natale, 81 Quagliarella, 90+2
Team
Slovakia 01 Mucha 02 Pekarik 03 Skrtel 05 Zabavnik 06 Strba (20 Kopunek, 86) 15 Stoch 16 Durica 17 Hamsik 19 Kucka 11 Vittek 18 Jendrisek (22 Petras, 90+4)		Italy 12 Marchetti 03 Criscito (02 Maggio, 46) 04 Chiellini 05 Cannavaro 19 Zambrotta 06 De Rossi 07 Pepe 08 Gattuso (18 Quagliarella, 46 ) 22 Montolivo (21 Pirlo, 56) 09 Iaquinta 10 >Di Natale
12 Pernis, 23 Kuciak, 04 Cech, 21 Salata, 22 Petras, 07 Weiss, 08 Kozak, 10 Sapara, 20 Kopunek, 09 Sestak, 13 Holosko, 14 Jakubko		Substitutes: 01 Buffon, 14 De Sanctis, 13 Bocchetti, 23 Bonucci, 02 Maggio, 15 Marchisio, 16 Camoranesi, 17 Palombo, 21 Pirlo, 11 Gilardino, 18 Quagliarella, 20 Pazzini
Venue: Ellis Park Referee: Howard Webb Attendance: 53,412

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Shane Smeltz almost embarrassing defending champion Italy

Rank outsiders New Zealand pulled off one of the biggest World Cup shocks of recent tournaments by holding defending champions Italy to a memorable draw in Nelspruit.

The Azzurri pressed hard for three points in a pulsating second half, but the All Whites stood firm and could have snatched a remarkable victory had 18-year-old West Brom forward Chris Wood not guided a late left-foot shot just wide of the post.

Regardless, it still represents easily the best result in the history of a nation which still does not have a professional football league and is far better known for its daunting rugby exploits.

And Italy, sorely lacking the creativity of injured AC Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo, are now under real pressure to ensure an extended stay in South Africa: they must beat Slovakia on Thursday to guarantee a place in the last 16.

Should they only manage a draw, then New Zealand - 2000-1 to win the World Cup before the tournament started - could deny them with victory over Paraguay in their final Group F match.

Before this vibrant encounter at the Mbombela Stadium, Italy coach Marcello Lippi had identified New Zealand's aerial threat as the main danger to his team - and that warning proved prophetic within just seven minutes.

Simon Elliott whipped over a curling free-kick from the left and with tall defender Winston Reid soaring highest to flick the ball on, Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro - who lifted the ultimate prize in world football back in 2006 - could only help it into the path of Shane Smeltz.

The New Zealand striker looked significantly offside but was nerveless in prodding his 20th goal in 37 internationals past Federico Marchetti, who was deputising for Italy's injured first-choice keeper Gianluigi Buffon.

The holders nearly hit back instantly but All Whites goalkeeper Mark Paston clawed out a dangerously bouncing Riccardo Montolivo free-kick with a posse of blue shirts waiting at close quarters to pounce on any mistake.

Italy soon set about exploiting any means they could to try and gain an advantage - Cannavaro accusing Rory Fallon of using his elbow after another sturdy challenge in the air for which the Plymouth striker was booked.

But AC Milan's celebrated right-back Gianluca Zambrotta injected some flair into the Italian charge after 23 minutes, firing in a spectacular shot which whistled just past the top corner before Riccardo Montolivo surged forward in similar style to swerve the controversial Jabulani ball against the upright from fully 30 yards.

Italy made their pressure tell just before the half hour when Ipswich Town defender Tommy Smith conceded a penalty after tussling with Daniele De Rossi as they battled to get on the end of a cross, though the Roma midfielder seemed to tumble easily.

Referee Carlos Batres booked Smith before Juventus striker Vincenzo Iaquinta coolly slotted home, ignoring New Zealand's apparent attempts to match Italy's gamesmanship by trying to delay the kick.

Italy ended the first half in the ascendency but Lippi - knowing a win was of paramount importance - was still proactive at the break, bringing on Antonio di Natale and Mauro Camoranesi for Alberto Gilardino and Simone Pepe.

After Iaquinta wasted a defence-splitting De Rossi pass in the 60th minute, Lippi again made a further change with in-form Sampdoria striker Giampaolo Pazzini replacing the ineffective Claudio Marchisio.

Despite struggling to retain possession, New Zealand nearly took an unlikely lead when Ivan Vicelich lashed a fierce volley just wide.

With play really opening up - as many matches have in the second round of group matches following cagey encounters in the first - Montolivo once more showcased his long-range abilities but again Paston proved equal to his shot by palming it away from danger as the pressure mounted.

New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert soon replaced Fallon with Wood, who went so close to clinching a winning goal as he turned Cannavaro inside-out before guiding a well-struck low shot just the wrong side of the post.

The final opportunity fell to Italy as Argentine-born Camoranesi forced another decent stop from Paston - but destiny was on New Zealand's side and, on the balance of chances if not ther amount of possession, they fully deserved to take their World Cup points tally to two following their opening draw with Slovakia.

Italy	1-1	New Zealand	FT
Iaquinta (pen), 29	(HT 1-1)	Smeltz, 7
Team
Italy 12 Marchetti 03 Criscito 04 Chiellini 05 Cannavaro 19 Zambrotta 06 De Rossi 07 Pepe (Camoranesi, 46) 15 Marchisio (Pazzini, 61) 22 Montolivo 09 Iaquinta 11 Gilardino (Di Natale, 46)		New Zealand 01 Paston 03 Lochhead 04 Reid 06 Nelsen 19 Smith 05 Vicelich (Christie, 80) 07 Elliott 11 Bertos 09 Smeltz 10 Killen (Barron, 90+2) 14 Fallon (Wood, 62)
01 Buffon, 14 De Sanctis, 13 Bocchetti, 23 Bonucci, 02 Maggio, 08 Gattuso, 16 Camoranesi, 17 Palombo, 21 Pirlo, 10 Di Natale, 18 Quagliarella, 20 Pazzini		Substitutes: 12 Moss, 23 Bannatyne, 02 Sigmund, 17 Mulligan, 18 Boyens, 08 Brown, 13 Barron, 15 McGlinchey, 16 Clapham, 21 Christie, 20 Wood, 22 Brockie
Venue: Mbombela Stadium Referee: C Batres Attendance: 38,229

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