Champions Italy on brink of elimination

Reigning champions Italy were on the brink of World Cup elimination as they trailed Slovakia 1-0 at half-time in their final Group F clash at Ellis Park on Thursday.

If the score was to stay the same at full-time, it would be the Slovaks joining Paraguay, who were level 0-0 with New Zealand, in the last 16.

Italy started brightly with a couple of half chances as Antonio Di Natale, making his first start in the competition, tried a speculative long range volley, which sailed over, while Vincenzo Iaquinta screwed a shot wastefully wide with his left foot.

Despite Azzurri coach Marcello Lippi insisting his side have generally defended well this tournament, Slovakia captain Marek Hamsik was left unmarked in the middle only for a poor finish and offside flag to save the champions.

However, the Italians went behind for the third game in a row.

Juraj Kucka cut out a poor Daniele De Rossi pass deep in Italian territory and fed Robert Vittek who rifled home low and hard from the edge of the box.

Zdenek Srba then forced Italy goalkeeper Federico Marchetti into a sprawling save with a surprise shot from distance.

However, Liverpool centre-back Martin Skrtel then almost headed into his own goal from De Rossi’s deep ball into the box.

The half finished with Kucka lashing a stunning volley an inch wide of the post as Italy failed to get any foothold in the game.