Pirlo strike gives Italy half-time lead

Italy 1 Ghana 0

Italy lead at half-time in their World Cup opener against Ghana.

Andrea Pirlo’s 39th minute goal, a right-footed shot from outside the box inside Richard Kingston’s near post, was the difference between the teams in a Group E clash in Hannover.

The Azzurri were looking by far the more incisive team against their African rivals, who looked jittery, with the role of tournament debutants seeming to sit uncomfortably on their shoulders.