Four-time world champions Italy kicked off their World Cup campaign with what was always going to be a potentially tricky opener against Paraguay at the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, on Monday. Marcello Lippi’s ageing side came into the tournament, aiming to become the first team in 48 years to successfully defend the championship.
The 1-1 draw proved that it was going to be quite a task.
Going into the game with an inexperienced midfield, Lippi’s worries were somewhat eased with De Rossi passing a fitness test to start. Paraguay boss Gerardo Martino sprung up a surprise by leaving out Roque Santa Cruz, leaving the task of firing in the goals to the Borussia Dortmund pairing of Nelson Valdez and Lucas Barrios.
Italy started off on a bold note, winning a corner in just the 4th minute. Even on the other side of the pitch, Cannavaro calmly controlled, cleared the ball in a way that only he can.
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It was all Italy in the opening minutes of the game with the defending champions looking sharp and creating chances only to see their attack break down with over-hit passes.
Paraguay were struggling till the 20th minute, with Barrios and Valdez barely getting a sniff of the ball. But, the South Americans bounced back with two successive corners – the first causing Italy to panic and concede the second, which caused no problems.
The first half looked like heading towards a goalless finish and, as you might predict of any game involving Italy, there was not too much pace to it. It was then in the 39th minute that Paraguay grabbed a shock lead with the game’s first shot on target by Antolin Alcarez. It was his first international goal to boot.
At Half Time: Italy 0-1 Paraguay
The second half began with a Lippi’s men required to do a lot of work. However, their task wasn’t made any easier with star goal-keeper Buffon being substituted at half, possibly through injury. He was replaced by Cagliari stopper, Federico Marchetti.
It was an ideal situation for the Italians to prove what they’re made of. However, they found it difficult to cope with the rainy and windy conditions. Pepe came close on a number of occasions, showcasing more extravagance and ambition than the rest of the pack. He even tried an overhead kick to convert Zambrotta’s cross in the 53rd minute, in what could have been the goal of the tournament had he scored. However, he found only air.
Lippi tried to infuse some much needed vigour by bringing on Mauro Camoranesi for Marchesio in the 59th minute and Italy’s sudden urgency paid dividends. Pepe rushed to take a corner that flew over Paraguay keeper Justo Villar, to find De Rossi, who simply nodded the ball in from about four yards. Italy’s equalizer came in the 63rd minute and Villar made his case for a place in the goal-keepers’ hall of shame. He leapt into the air, with his left fist clenched and got absolutely nowhere near the ball.
Paraguay brought on Manchester City forward Santa Cruz to find a winner, as a replacement for Valdez, in the 69th minute, but continued to feel the pressure, with Italy looking a completely different side from what they encountered in the first half.
Lippi brought on Udinese’s Antonio Di Natale for a disappointing Gilardino up front as a final throw of the dice in the 72nd minute.
Both sides gave it their all in the final minutes of the game, but neither found the right final ball.
