Slovakia 3 Italy 2

Hamsik (6’) wasted an opportunity in the Italian goalmouth. 25’, 1-0 to Slovakia. Vittek took advantage of a defensive error by Italy, rewarding his team for a better opening session. Italy finally reacted, getting a corner on 40’.

Italian coach Marcello Lippi brought on Maggio for Criscito and Quagliarella for Gattuso at the beginning of the second half, making the team more offensive. Pirlo came on for Montolivo on 46’, Lippi using up all his options early on.

62’ Di Natale shot at Mucha from outside the area; 66’ Quagliarella’s shot was cleared off the line by Skrtel. However, Slovakia came back and on 73’, Vittek scored the second goal of the match. 2-0 for Slovakia.

81’, Di Natale pulled one back for Italy against the run of play. Kopunek came on for Strba on 87’ and on 89’ scored the 3-1. Throw-in from the right, straight to Kopunek, cho chipped over the goalkeeper. 91’ 3-2. Quagliarella, shot from 25 yards.

Slovakia: Mucha, Pekarik, Skrtel, Zabavnik, Strba (Kopunek), Vittek (Sestak), Durica, Hamsik, Jendrisek (Petras), Kucka

Italy: Marchetti, Criscito (Maggio), Chiellini, Cannavaro, De Rossi, Pepe, Gattuso (Quagliarella), Iaquinta, Di Natale, Zambrotta, Montolivo (Pirlo)

Group F (After 3 games)

Paraguay 1 2 0 3 1 5

Slovakia 1 1 1 4 5 4

Italy 0 2 1 4 5 2

New Zealand 0 3 0 2 2 3

Italy 1 Paraguay 1

New Zealand 1 Slovakia 1

Paraguay 2 Slovakia 0

Italy 1 New Zealand 1

Slovakia 3 Italy 2

New Zealand 0 Paraguay 0

Scorers Alcaraz, Vera, Riveros (Paraguay)

De Rossi, Iaquinta, pen. Di Natale, Quagliarella (Italy)

Reid, Smeltz (New Zealand)

Vittek, 3; Pekarek (Slovakia)

Yellow cards Paraguay – 3 (V. Caceres, 2; Vera, Santa Cruz)

Italy – 5 (Camoranesi, Chiellini, Cannavaro, Pepe, Quagliarella)

New Zealand – 6 (Lochhead, Reid, Nelsen, 2; Fallon, Smith)

Slovakia – 8 (Strba, 2; Sestak, Durica, Weiss, Vittek, Pekarik, Mucha)

2nd yellow