Defending World Cup Champion Italy Eliminated by Slovakia

Sure, there were warning signs all over Italy's campaign heading into the 2010 World Cup, namely the aging Azzurri squad was too old to defend its title from 2006.

Nevertheless, most figured the Italians still had it in their DNA to get their act together and make something happen once the matches kicked off in South Africa.

In the biggest shock yet at the tournament, Italy is going home before the knockout rounds after losing 3-2 to Slovakia in Johannesburg on Thursday. The Azzurri finish at the bottom of Group F, going 0-1-2. Paraguay, which drew New Zealand 0-0, wins the group while Slovakia finishes second.


Be sure to stay with FanHouse for complete coverage from South Africa, as columnist Kevin Blackistone and soccer editor Brian Straus will be on location for the duration of the tournament.

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World Cup Coverage Italy becomes the fourth defending World Cup champion to fail to make it out of the Group Stage. The Azzurri join France (2002), Brazil (1966) and the 1950 Italy team, though that team was much different than the 1938 winners since World War II put the World Cup on hold for 12 years.

Still, there is nothing positive for Italy to take away from its foray to South Africa in 2010.

Chew on this awful statistic: the Italians only allowed six shots on target, but five of those went in for goals.

Or how about the fact the Azzurri never led in the tournament, going down 1-0 to world minnows New Zealand in the second group match.

Captain Fabio Cannavaro -- the best player in 2006 -- better hope his check from the famous pre-tournament Nike ad cleared, because at 36 years old he was exposed, making his move to Dubai next season make a whole lot of sense.

In fact, Marcello Lippi might lose a little luster off the glory of 2006 based on the disaster of 2010. The so-called "Silver Fox" put on a master class of coaching four years ago, rallying and uniting the team behind a domestic match-fixing scandal, forging a group of players that trusted each other like brothers and refused to lose.

In 2010, Italy never seemed to match that resolve to win until it was too late, when it went down 2-0 in the 73rd minute on Robert Vittek's second goal of the game.

Down two, Italy rallied forward and showed attacking prowess for the first time all tournament, pulling a goal back in the 81st minute through Antonio di Natale. All Italy needed at that point was a draw to go through over New Zealand on total goals scored.



Slovakia, though in its first World Cup as an independent nation, wouldn't back down. Substitute Kamil Kopúnek chipped Italian keeper Federico Marchetti with his first touch making it 3-2 in the 89th.

Halftime substitute Fabio Quagliarella gave Italy life with his long-range goal in the second minute of stoppage time, but it was too little, too late for Italy. Quagliarella had two other chances wiped off. First when Martin Škrtel blocked his chance on the line, later when a would-be goal was waved off for an offside call.

Slovakia advances to likely face the Netherlands in the next round, while Italy returns home with its tail between its legs.

Lippi, who will step down to be replaced by Cesare Prandelli this summer, will likely be slaughtered by the Italian media. His insistence on both sticking with the main core of aging players from 2006, as well as bringing in seven players from Juventus -- which placed seventh in Serie A last year -- will come into question.

The fact that Lippi ignored young players like American-born Giuseppe Rossi or Inter Milan youngster Mario Balotelli certainly will be an issue, too.

The biggest issue, however, is the state of Italian soccer in general. Winning the World Cup in 2006 masked over that decline, but the lack of new faces and fresh blood will have the doomsayers out in full force. The fact, too, that Inter Milan won the 2010 Champions League without an Italian in the starting XI will further the potential crisis.

Then again, considering Daniele De Rossi elbowed U.S. forward Brian McBride in a Group Stage game in Kaisersluatern, Germany, at the 2006 World Cup, Italy didn't exactly become the second-favorite team to American soccer fans, so it's doubtful the Azzurri's exit will be mourned all that much stateside.