Italy Crashes Out, Last In Group F, After 3-2 Loss To Slovakia

A 22-yard right-footed shot from Fabio Quagliarella has Italy within one in the 92nd minute, now trailing Slovakia 3-2.

Play along the top of the penalty area found the attacker even with Jan Mucha’s left post. The right-footed shot went into the upper left-hand corner, an unstoppable shot to make it 3-2 in second half stoppage time.

Antonio Di Natale put a rebound of a Fabio Quagliarella shot into an empty net to bring Italy within one of Slovakia, 2-1, in the 80th minutes.

One touch play between Quagliarella and Vincenzo Iaquinta gave Quagliarella a chance on Jan Mucha from near the penalty spot. Mucha had come off his line to cut off the angles, but his save went to Di Natale to the left of goal, who put the ball into the unprotected net.

Robert Vittek scored his second goal of the match in the 74th minute, finishing the play off a corner kick, to put the defending champion Italy down 2-0 and likely out of the World Cup.

A Marek Hamsik corner kick failed to clear the first Italian defender, but the ball headed back to the Slovak kick-taker was rolled to the end of the six, near post, for Vittek’s right-footed finish, giving the Slovak’s a 2-0 lead.

Marcello Lippi has made his final substitution in the 56th minute, bringing on Andrea Pirlo in what could be seen as a final act of desperation.

Pirlo missed the first two matches of Italy’s World Cup with a calf injury, his absence pointed to as a reason for the Azzurri’s lack of attacking prowess. Not starting the final group match, it was though Pirlo’s injury had not improved enough to play, but now down 1-0 with potentially just over a half hour left in their World Cup, Italy has brought Pirlo on.

Italy, Going Forward: The Azzurri have been unable to finish off the chances they’re creating, which have been half-chances, at best. In the middle of the field Italy’s movement and passing are great. They have no problems getting into attack. In the final third, however, they have lacked imagination, their typical final movement being a cross from the wings that innocently goes through the box.

Marek Hamsik needs to play better. Where Italy was going to be difficult to get three points from under the best of circumstances, Slovakia has little chance if their best player continues to have no impact on this tournament. Needing to win, Slovakia now needs more than just an awakening from their captain. They likely need a dominant performance from their best player if they are to advance.