Italy slo-whacked!
This wasn’t what Julius Caeser had in mind when he wrote Veni, Vedi, Veci. The Italians came and saw, but they were the ones who were conquered as a 2-3 loss to Slovakia in their final World Cup Group F match consigned the Azzurri to a shock first-round exit.
The Italians began the match as world champions, but 90 minutes of pulsating action later they joined the team whom they beat in the final four years ago — France — as not only the highest profile casualty in the tournament but also the only defending champions to crash out in the opening round.
In the end the early exit was apt punishment for leaving things too late as Slovakia progressed to the next round in their maiden World Cup appearance.
Italy came out of the gates with intent and went close within the first 30 seconds as an Antonio Di Natale shot from 35 yards out went fizzing over the crossbar.
Burly striker Vincenzo Iaquinta even put the ball in the back of the net off a set-piece from the left flank, but the referee had already blown the whistle for an infringement before the Juventus forward got his shot in. Slovakia went ahead in the 26th minute, with defensive midfielder Daniele De Rossi being the main the culprit for the Italians.
The AS Roma midfielder gave the ball away to the Slovakians inside his own half with a lazy pass. The ball reached Vittek whose perfectly placed right-footer went past the outstretched goalkeeper Federico Marchetti and into the net.
The Italians almost drew level in the 66th minute as a cross from Pepe was not collected by Slovakia goalkeeper Jan Mucha. His parry reached Fabio Quagliarella. The Napoli frontman’s shot beat the goalkeeper but Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel was on the goalline to clear his effort.
Against the run of play Slovakia doubled the advantage in the 73rd minute. Skipper Marek Hamsik’s cross from the right flank was toe-poked into the net by Vittek. Not ready to give up without a fight, Italy pulled a goal back in the 81st minute. Quagliarella played a neat one-two with Iaquinta to get into the penalty box, but his shot was saved by Mucha. The rebound reached Di Natale who slotted the ball into an open net.
Quagliarella almost brought the house down with a clever finish in the 86th minute, however the assistant referee raised his flag and the goal was disallowed.
Slovakia killed off the match in the 88th minute. A swift counter attack was finished off in style by Kamil Kopunek, who lobbed the ball over Marchetti.
Quagliarella finally got his goal with a sublime strike from 30-yards out in the second minute of injury-time to ensure a nervous final few minutes for the Slovaks.
But in the end it proved too little, too late as Slovakia held on for a historic win.
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