Italy ousted after 3-2 loss to Slovakia
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Defending champions Italy were eliminated from the World Cup yesterday after a humbling 3-2 loss that sent Slovakia through to the round of 16.
For the third consecutive match, the Azzurri conceded an early goal, and this time they never recovered.
“I take full responsibility,” Italy coach Marcello Lippi said. “If the squad went out with fear in their legs and hearts, it means the coach didn’t prepare the match well tactically or psychologically.”
Robert Vittek put Slovakia ahead in the 25th minute at Ellis Park, taking advantage of an errant pass from midfielder Daniele De Rossi. He then doubled the lead from close range in the 73rd following a corner.
Antonio Di Natale pulled one back for Italy in the 81st, but Kamil Kopunek scored another in the 89th for the Slovaks. Fabio Quagliarella put in the final goal in injury time.
Paraguay won Group F with five points, and Slovakia finished second with four points. New Zealand exited with three points and Italy was last with two, marking the first time the Azzurri have finished last in their group.
The rest of the Slovakia players refused to speak with the media in an apparent show of support for coach Vladimir Weiss following his dispute with local reporters after a 2-0 loss to Paraguay.
While Slovakia’s players heaped on top of one another to celebrate at the final whistle, the Azzurri walked off the field with their heads held low, with tears visible on some of their faces.
Quagliarella and Di Natale were particularly distraught, realising their goals counted for little.
Italy also allowed early goals in their opening 1-1 draws with Paraguay and New Zealand, and the Azzurri attack struggled in all three games — save for the final 10 minutes against Slovakia.
It was the end of an era for Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro and midfielder Gennaro Gattuso, who already announced they would retire from the national team after the tournament. Lippi is also moving on, with Cesare Prandelli already named as his successor.
Italy’s squad featured nine players that are 30 or older, led by the 36-year-old Cannavaro.
Lippi already left after Italy’s title in 2006, then returned after Roberto Donadoni led the Azzurri to the quarter-finals of the 2008 European Championship.
Slovakia is playing in their first major tournament since the former Czechoslovakia divided in 1993. The team conceded a stoppage time equaliser in their opening 1-1 draw with New Zealand and lost to Paraguay 2-0.
Vittek’s opening goal came on a low shot just beyond the reach of Italy goalkeeper Federico Marchetti, who again replaced Buffon. He then beat Giorgio Chiellini from close range following a corner for his second goal.
Slovakia restored their two-goal lead in the 89th when Kopunek lifted a bouncing ball over Marchetti.
Quagliarella finally found the target in the second minute of injury time with a powerful long-range shot. A draw would have put Italy through, but Simone Pepe missed a volley wide in the fifth minute of added time.