Thursday June 24, 2010 Group Stage: Group F Finished Coca-Cola Park

Slovakia 3 - 2 Italy

  • Vittek 25’, 73’
  • Kopúnek 89’
  • Di Natale 81’
  • Quagliarella 90’

No comments yet | Write your comment

  1. Holders Italy crash out

    Holders Italy crash out

    Holders Italy were sent crashing out of the World Cup after an incredible 3-2 defeat to Slovakia at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Slovakia
    • Italy
    • 90+7' FULL-TIME! And Italy go out after a quite sensational 3-2 defeat to Slovakia who join Paraguay in the second round.
    • 90+6' A long throw is flicked on and it is a golden chance for Pepe at the back post but he completely shanks his volley wide of the near post from six yards.
    • 90+5' Martin Petras replaces Jendrisek. 0-0 is a final result in the other game so Italy will qualify with a goal.
    • 90+4' Mucha is fouled by Chiellini but the keeper is play acting again.
    • 90+3' Stanislav Sestak replaces Vittek.
    • 90+2' Superb chip into the top corner from Quagliarella. Surely not? SLOVAKIA 3-2 ITALY.
    • 90' Four minutes of added time.
    • 89' Marchetti collects a cross from the right.
    • 88' GOAL SLOVAKIA!! It's all over now for Italy as Kopunek scores with his first touch. The sub simply runs past Cannavaro, a collects a throw-in and lofts over Marchetti.
    • 87' Mucha flaps at Pepe's cross but just makes enough contact to avert the danger.
    • 86' Kamil Kopunek replaces Strba.
    • 85' Quagliarella sweeps home a cross from the left but the flag is up. Very, very close call.
    • 84' Pekarik throws himself at an Italian shot to block.
    • 83' A cross from the left is thumped clear by Durica.
    • 82' Italy need one more goal to save their World Cup lives.
    • 81' Quagliarella and Mucha have a confrontation in the aftermath and both men are booked.
    • 80' GOAL ITALY!! Iaquinta's flick to Quagliarella and Mucha produces a superb one-handed save but Di Natale sweeps the ball into the empty net.
    • 79' Remember a New Zealand goal would still knock out Slovakia. 0-0 in Polokwane.
    • 78' Mucha comes out to smother at the feet of Di Natale but the flag is already up.
    • 77' Last year on this ground, Italy played Egypt in the Confederations Cup losing 1-0.
    • 76' Pepe's frustration boils over and he lashes out at Stoch. Could have quite easily been a straight red for a wild hack.
    • 75' Pepe's frustration boils over and he lashes out at Stoch. Could have quite easily been a straight red for a wild hack.
    • 74' For the first time in World Cup history, both the previous finalists from the last tournament are set to fall at the opening stage.
    • 73' GOAL SLOVAKIA!! Slovakia win a sixth corner - it is cleared straight back to Hamsik whose first-time cross is met by Vittek who gets ahead of Chiellini at the near post and sweeps the ball into the net.
    • 72' A terrific sliding challenge from Chiellini just as Hamsik was about to pull the trigger.
    • 71' End-to-end stuff and Mucha punches Quagliarella's cross clear.
    • 70' The game is really stretched and Chiellini makes a vital interception on the edge of the penalty area.
    • 69' Chance at the other end as Stoch cuts inside on to his right foot but his shot is well wide from 20 yards.
    • 68' Big call by Darren Cann - replays are inconclusive, certainly some of Skrtel was behind the line but was the whole ball.
    • 67' Mucha flaps at Pepe's cross and Iaquinta smashes a volley towards the goal which is superbly cleared off the line by Skrtel's knee.
    • 66' Pepe's cross is blocked by Hamsik.
    • 65' john w: "Italians players are going to get a warm welcome home reception of rotten tomatoes thrown at them!"
    • 64' Stoch gets goalside of Maggio but the full-back shows great pace to track back and win a free-kick.
    • 63' Hamsik's corner brushes the head of Kucka and drifts wide.
    • 62' Great chasing by Jendrisek to win a corner.
    • 61' Kucka drives extravagently wide.
    • 60' Di Natale goes for the curler into the far corner from 20 yards but held by Mucha.
    • 59' Quagliarella's cross is comfortably claimed by Mucha.
    • 58' A weak free-kick from Stoch is easily cleared.
    • 57' Pirlo sat out the 1-1 draws against Paraguay and New Zealand with a calf injury and the stuttering world champions severely missed his creative talent.
    • 56' Montolivo replaced by Andrea Pirlo. Italy's final change.
    • 55' Golden chance for Di Natale but he fails to hit the target from eight yards. Nice through ball but the Udinese striker fails to swivel sufficiently and the ball comes almost off the end of the boot.
    • 54' Slovakia are not safe as a New Zealand goal in Polokwane would eliminate them. It is still 0-0 in that game. Paraguay v New Zealand: LIVE
    • 53' An ambitious Kucka effort spoons off Cannavaro and is headed back to Marchetti.
    • 52' Chiellini comes across to curtail Hamsik's run.
    • 51' Quagliarella and Mucha have a minor spat, the keeper goes down like he was a shot and referee Webb tells him to get up.
    • 50' Italy's best opening but Iaquinta's header from the penalty spot drifts harmlessly wide. Decent cross by Pepe from the right.
    • 49' Pekarik is booked for bringing down Quagliarella from behind.
    • 48' Holders Italy are the only World Cup team yet to win a match in 2010.
    • 47' Gianluca Zambrotta has switched to left-back with Maggio on the right flank while Di Natale has moved closer to Iaquinta in what is effectively a 4-2-4.
    • 46' Marcello Lippi makes two changes at half-time with the Napoli duo of Maggio and Quagliarella replacing Criscito and Gattuso.
    • - Today's Venn answer - The players were Ray Wilkins, Tony Woodcock, Chris Waddle and Owen Hargreaves. The link is that all were picked for England World Cup squads while playing overseas. Woodcock: Cologne, 1982; Wilkins, Milan 1986: Waddle, Marseille 1990. Hargreaves: Bayern Munich, 2002. Another Venn tomorrow
    • 45+3' HALF-TIME! Italy were woeful and are in real danger of going out. 0-0 in the other game so Slovakia would go through as Group E runners-up behind Paraguay as things stand.
    • 45+2' A thumping volley from Kucka from 35 yards is into the side netting, a superb connection and Marchetti was worried.
    • 45+1' Chiellini pushes Vittek just outside the penalty area to hand Slovakia a free-kick in a dangerous position. But Durica thumps his effort into the wall.
    • 45' Kamil Kopunek of little known Spartak Trnava was stripped and ready to come on but Strba wants to carry on and waves frantically from the other side of the pitch. He will try to play on.
    • 44' Gattuso catches Strba in his follow through and the Slovakian midfielder has a real nasty gash on his knee. The blood is oozing out and he is taken off on a stretcher.
    • 43' Match Image Strba and Gattuso battle for the ball
    • 42' Consecutive corners for Italy but Mucha claims the second.
    • 41' Skrtel is very lucky that his header skims over the top of the crossbar. The Liverpool man got himself in something of a muddle in trying to deal with a cross from the right.
    • 40' Vittek catches Cannavaro on the foot with a late tackle and goes into the book.
    • 39' Riccardo Montolivo drags his shot wide from 25 yards, the Azzuri have yet to test Mucha yet.
    • 38' Hamsik's Napoli's team-mates Morgan De Sanctis, Christian Maggio and Fabio Quagliarella are on a forlorn Italy bench.
    • 37' Hamsik joined Brescia as a 17-year-old in 2004. He moved to Napoli in 2007, where he has scored 30 goals in 106 Serie A matches over the last three seasons.
    • 36' Italy give the ball away but Hamsik is unable to pick out a team-mate with his cross from the right.
    • 35' A great drive from Strba from 30 yards which may have been creeping in the corner only for Marchetti to push away.
    • 34' Cannavaro brings down Hamsik and that could easily have been a second yellow.
    • 33' The foul count has now hit 20.
    • 32' Stoch sees his effort on goal blocked.
    • 31' Criscito blocks Vittek's cross.
    • 30' Cannavaro blocks Kucka's run and the Italy captain sees yellow.
    • 29' Goalkeeper Federico Marchetti has not lost in his seven international matches, winning his first three and drawing his last four, and he could do little with the goal. De Rossi culpable.
    • 28' Stoch's free-kick is headed out by Iaquinta, back in his own penalty area.
    • 27' Pepe drags his shot wide.
    • 26' As things stand, Paraguay and Slovakia would go through with Italy bottom of the group.
    • 25' GOAL SLOVAKIA! De Rossi gives the ball away haplessly to Kucka who feeds Vittek and a slide rule finish from the Lille striker into the bottom corner past Marchetti.
    • 24' Martin Skrtel shows great adventure to charge into the Italy penalty area but his run is curtailed by Gattuso.
    • 23' Stoch's delivery is wasteful, far too strong for Hamsik.
    • 22' Jendrisek gets to a long ball ahead of Chiellini and wins the first corner of the match.
    • 21' Italy drew 1-1 with Switzerland in their final warm-up match before the World Cup. This is a good omen for the Squadra Azzurra. In 1982 and 2006 they went on to win the world title after drawing the Swiss 1-1 in a friendly before the World Cup.
    • 20' Good saving tackle by Jan Durica to prevent Iaquinta from having a run at goal.
    • 19' Simone Pepe's cross is over hit and the scrambling Jan Mucha claims.
    • 18' 10 fouls inside the opening 18 minutes, the game has not had a chance to flow.
    • 17' Daniele De Rossi's long-range attempt is blocked by Erik Jendrisek.
    • 16' He will miss the next round if Slovakia do progress.
    • 15' Inevitably we have a yellow as Strba lunges in late on Gattuso.
    • 14' Great run from Marek Hamsik down the left but his low cross is collected by Marchetti with Vittek lurking.
    • 13' Italy are one of only three World Cup holders to have been eliminated at the group stage when defending the trophy. This happened to Italy in 1950, Brazil in 1966 and France in 2002.
    • 12' Stoch's free-kick is punched clear by Marchetti and the follow-up from Radoslav Zabavnik is high over the crossbar.
    • 11' Foul after foul in the opening as Gattuso brings down Miroslav Stoch.
    • 10' Di Natale swings over the cross, Iaquinta puts the ball in the net but he has already been penalised for tugging a Slovakian shirt.
    • 9' Zdeno Strba brings down Criscito on the left and Italy will be able to put the ball in the penalty box.
    • 8' Giorgio Chiellini goes down theatrically after a foul by Juraj Kucka.
    • 7' Pekarik penalised for kicking Gennaro Gattuso in the groin and gets a warning from referee Webb.
    • 6' A long ball is flicked on by Robert Vittek and Marek Hamsik finds himself in acres of space in the penalty area but volleys wide. Great chance for Slovakia.
    • 5' Italy have progressed to the knockout phase in each of the last 10 World Cups. The last time they failed to successfully negotiate the group phase was in 1974 when they finished third in the group behind Poland and Argentina.
    • 4' Peter Pekarik's cross is punched away by Federico Marchetti, you would have thought he would have caught that.
    • 3' Vincenzo Iaquinta shanks his shot badly wide, his blushes are saved a little as the offside flag is already up.
    • 2' An early 35-yard dipping effort from Antonio Di Natale is over the crossbar.
    • 1' And we are underway at Ellis Park for this crunch encounter.
    • 14:55 Today's referee is Howard Webb from England and his assistants are Darren Cann and Michael Mullarkey. They lead the teams out.
    • 14:50 The only previous encounter between these teams came in January 1998 in Catania, when Italy beat Slovakia 3-0 in a friendly through goals by Alessandro Del Piero, Roberto Di Matteo and an own goal by Slovakia’s Milan Timko.
    • 14:45 Italy reached the final of the 1968 European Championship after a toss of a coin. They had drawn 0-0 with the Soviet Union in the semi-final.
    • 14:40 The only time there was a drawing of lots was at the 1990 World Cup when it had to be determined between Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands who finished second and third in the group. However, both countries were already sure of progressing.
    • 14:35 Group Explained - A win would see Italy through. A draw can be enough for Italy if Paraguay beat New Zealand. If Italy and New Zealand record the same result in their final match a drawing of lots might be necessary to determine which country will progress or finish top of the group.
    • 14:30 Group Explained - Slovakia need to beat Italy to have a change of reaching the last 16. A draw or a Paraguay win in the other group match will then be enough. If New Zealand beat Paraguay, the goal difference between Slovakia and Paraguay comes into play.
    • 14:25 Slovakia make four changes as they go for broke given they need to win to have any hope of a shock progression to the last 16. Fit-again winger Miroslav Stoch replaced midfielder Vladimir Weiss, defender Radoslav Zabavnik came in for Kornel Salata, Erik Jendrisek replaced forward Stanislav Sestak and Juraj Kucka took the place of midfielder Jan Kozak.
    • 14:20 Goalkeeper Federico Marchetti will again deputise for the injured Gianluigi Buffon.
    • 14:15 Andrea Pirlo, who missed the 1-1 draws against Paraguay and New Zealand with a calf injury, was named on the bench so fellow midfielder Gennaro Gattuso was picked to start in place of the ineffective Claudio Marchisio.
    • 14:10 Stuttering world champions Italy revamped their forward line for the Group F decider with Antonio Di Natale replacing the out-of-form Alberto Gilardino. Wideman Simone Pepe kept his place with coach Marcello Lippi set to opt for a 4-3-3 formation, his third system change in three games.
    • 14:05 Teams - Slovakia: 1-Jan Mucha; 2-Peter Pekarik, 3-Martin Skrtel, 16-Jan Durica, 5-Radoslav Zabavnik, 6-Zdeno Strba, 15-Miroslav Stoch, 17-Marek Hamsik, 11-Robert Vittek, 19-Juraj Kucka, 18-Erik Jendrisek. /// Italy: 12-Federico Marchetti; 19-Gianluca Zambrotta, 5-Fabio Cannavaro, 4-Giorgio Chiellini, 3-Domenico Criscito, 22-Riccardo Montolivo, 6-Daniele De Rossi, 8-Gennaro Gattuso, 9-Vincenzo Iaquinta, 7-Simone Pepe, 10-Antonio Di Natale.
    • 14:00 Holders Italy attempt to join other under-performing European powers in the second round of the World Cup as they face Slovakia in Johannesburg.

  • Summary

    • 90+6' A long throw is flicked on and it is a golden chance for Pepe at the back post but he completely shanks his volley wide of the near post from six yards.
    • 90+2' Superb chip into the top corner from Quagliarella. Surely not? SLOVAKIA 3-2 ITALY.
    • 88' GOAL SLOVAKIA!! It's all over now for Italy as Kopunek scores with his first touch. The sub simply runs past Cannavaro, a collects a throw-in and lofts over Marchetti.
    • 85' Quagliarella sweeps home a cross from the left but the flag is up. Very, very close call.
    • 80' GOAL ITALY!! Iaquinta's flick to Quagliarella and Mucha produces a superb one-handed save but Di Natale sweeps the ball into the empty net.
    • 73' GOAL SLOVAKIA!! Slovakia win a sixth corner - it is cleared straight back to Hamsik whose first-time cross is met by Vittek who gets ahead of Chiellini at the near post and sweeps the ball into the net.
    • 67' Mucha flaps at Pepe's cross and Iaquinta smashes a volley towards the goal which is superbly cleared off the line by Skrtel's knee.
    • 60' Di Natale goes for the curler into the far corner from 20 yards but held by Mucha.
    • 55' Golden chance for Di Natale but he fails to hit the target from eight yards. Nice through ball but the Udinese striker fails to swivel sufficiently and the ball comes almost off the end of the boot.
    • 50' Italy's best opening but Iaquinta's header from the penalty spot drifts harmlessly wide. Decent cross by Pepe from the right.
    • 45+2' A thumping volley from Kucka from 35 yards is into the side netting, a superb connection and Marchetti was worried.
    • 41' Skrtel is very lucky that his header skims over the top of the crossbar. The Liverpool man got himself in something of a muddle in trying to deal with a cross from the right.
    • 35' A great drive from Strba from 30 yards which may have been creeping in the corner only for Marchetti to push away.
    • 25' GOAL SLOVAKIA! De Rossi gives the ball away haplessly to Kucka who feeds Vittek and a slide rule finish from the Lille striker into the bottom corner past Marchetti.
    • 10' Di Natale swings over the cross, Iaquinta puts the ball in the net but he has already been penalised for tugging a Slovakian shirt.
    • 6' A long ball is flicked on by Robert Vittek and Marek Hamsik finds himself in acres of space in the penalty area but volleys wide. Great chance for Slovakia.
    • 14:05 Teams - Slovakia: 1-Jan Mucha; 2-Peter Pekarik, 3-Martin Skrtel, 16-Jan Durica, 5-Radoslav Zabavnik, 6-Zdeno Strba, 15-Miroslav Stoch, 17-Marek Hamsik, 11-Robert Vittek, 19-Juraj Kucka, 18-Erik Jendrisek. /// Italy: 12-Federico Marchetti; 19-Gianluca Zambrotta, 5-Fabio Cannavaro, 4-Giorgio Chiellini, 3-Domenico Criscito, 22-Riccardo Montolivo, 6-Daniele De Rossi, 8-Gennaro Gattuso, 9-Vincenzo Iaquinta, 7-Simone Pepe, 10-Antonio Di Natale.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

    • Starting line-up

      • J. Mucha Yellow Card
      • P. Pekarík Yellow Card
      • M. Škrtel
      • J. Durica
      • R. Zabavník
      • Z. Štrba Yellow Card Substitution Out (87′)
      • J. Kucka
      • M. Hamšík
      • M. Stoch
      • R. Vittek Goals×2 Yellow Card Substitution Out (90′)
      • E. Jendrišek Substitution Out (90′)

      Subs

      • M. Petráš Substitution In90′
      • M. Cech
      • D. Kuciak
      • M. Jakubko
      • F. Hološko
      • K. Kopúnek Substitution In87′ Goal
      • S. Šesták Substitution In90′
      • J. Kozák
      • M. Sapara
      • D. Perniš
      • K. Saláta
      • V. Weiss

    • Starting line-up

      • F. Marchetti
      • G. Zambrotta
      • F. Cannavaro Yellow Card
      • G. Chiellini Yellow Card
      • D. Criscito Substitution Out (45′)
      • D. De Rossi
      • G. Gattuso Substitution Out (45′)
      • R. Montolivo Substitution Out (56′)
      • S. Pepe Yellow Card
      • A. Di Natale Goal
      • V. Iaquinta

      Subs

      • G. Buffon
      • A. Pirlo Substitution In56′
      • M. De Sanctis
      • A. Gilardino
      • C. Maggio Substitution In45′
      • A. Palombo
      • F. Quagliarella Substitution In45′ Goal Yellow Card
      • C. Marchisio
      • L. Bonucci
      • S. Bocchetti
      • M. Camoranesi
      • G. Pazzini

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

    Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account.

    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      Yellow Card - -
      Defenders
      Yellow Card - -
      - -
      - -
      - -
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card Substitution Out87′ - -
      - -
      - -
      - -
      Strikers
      Goals ×2 Yellow Card Substitution Out90′ - -
      Substitution Out90′ - -
      Subs
      Substitution In90′ - -
      Substitution In87′ Goal - -
      Substitution In90′ - -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      - -
      Yellow Card - -
      Yellow Card - -
      Substitution Out45′ - -
      Midfielders
      - -
      Substitution Out45′ - -
      Substitution Out56′ - -
      Strikers
      Yellow Card - -
      Goal - -
      - -
      Subs
      Substitution In56′ - -
      Substitution In45′ - -
      Substitution In45′ Goal Yellow Card - -

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account