Defending champions Italy have been knocked out of the World Cup after losing to Slovakia 3-2. Italy finished bottom of Group F after failing to win any of its three games in South Africa.
With France going out of the tournament earlier this week, this is the first time that the previous World Cup finalists both failed to advance out of the group stages at a World Cup final.
There were questions about the Italian team coming into the World Cup that the team was too old and their performance did nothing to answer those concerns.
Like the Americans, Italy made a habit of conceding an early goal in each of its first two games. Against Slovakia the trend continued as Robert Vittek put Slovakia ahead in the 25th minute, after a terrible pass from midfielder Daniele De Rossi.
Italy’s World Cup dreams seemed to be all over when Vittek scored again in the 73rd to give Slovakia a 2-0 lead.
But Antonio Di Natale gave Italy hope when he scored nine minutes from time, but with full-time looming, Kamil Kopunek ended Italy’s World Cup dreams with a goal in th e89th minute.
Slovakia progressed to the knockout stages for the first time in their history where they will probably meet Holland.
Paraguay finished top of the group after drawing 0-0 with New Zealand and they will meet the winners of the Japan v Denmark match later today in the last-16.
