World champions Italy losing at the break

Slovakia 1 Italy 0

World champions Italy had 45 minutes to stay alive in the World Cup after a Robert Vittek goal gave Slovakia a surprising but wholly-deserved lead at the interval.

The Azzurri, still missing the midfield influence of Andrea Pirlo, opened the tournament with two draws and needed a win at Ellis Park to be sure of a place in the last 16.

Instead it was the first-time qualifiers who led and looked on course for the knockout stages.

Italy started positively enough with Antonio Di Natale’s volley almost catching out Slovakia goalkeeper Jan Mucha inside the first 30 seconds.

Vincenzo Iaquinta then dragged a shot well wide after good link-up play with Di Natale before Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik, Slovakia’s star man and captain, miscued a volley after the ball was flicked on to him by Vittek.

Iaquinta had the ball in the net after 10 minutes but English referee Howard Webb had already blown for a foul by the Juventus forward on defender Jan Durica in the box.

Webb produced his first yellow card for Slovakia midfielder Zdenko Strba, who caught the hard-tackling Gennaro Gattuso late.

Slovakia had to win to go through and they forged ahead in the 25th minute when Daniele De Rossi’s stray pass was picked up by Juraj Kucka and he rolled a pass forward to Vittek who directed a low right-foot shot past Italy goalkeeper Federico Marchetti from the edge of the box.

Strba could have made it 2-0 with a fierce 30-yard drive which Marchetti had to dive to his right to push wide for a corner as the half entered its final 10 minutes. Italy were lacking in inspiration and a speculative Riccardo Montolivo effort from long range drifted harmlessly wide.

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel had to head over his own crossbar from a floated Gattuso cross, and the AC Milan battler then cut open Strba’s knee in a tackle. The midfielder asked to continue though, with substitute Kamil Kopunek returning to his seat.

Slovakia ended the half on a high and almost conjured the goal of the tournament when Vittek cleverly worked the ball back to Kucka for a viciously-struck volley which flashed into the side-netting.

The Slovakians are in the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2012 qualifying group.