Referee: Howard Webb (England)
LINEUPS:
Slovakia (451): Mucha, Pekarik (Sestak 84'), Zabavnik, Skrtel, Durica, Strba (Kozak 57'), Weiss (Sapara 45'), Hamsik, Vittek, Jendrisek, Stoch
Italy (451): Marchetti, Zambrotta, Criscito, Cannavaro (Maggio 59'), Chiellini, De Rossi (Polombo 59'), Montolivo, Marchiso, Gilardino (Bonucchi 84'), Iaquinta, Pepe
It was total domination for Italy in the first half and their two goals before halftime would be enough to see them into the second round. Slovakia were riding their luck early on as the Italians aim was off with Criscito and Iaquinta twice missing the target. In the middle of all this Slovakia countered and created a chance for Peter Pekarik, but his angled shot flew high over the bar.
The 34th minute came and with it the deadlock was broken. A poor punch from Mucha on Gilardino's cross fell to Vincenzo Iaquinta who squeezed it through the hands of the Slovak keeper for a 1-0 lead. Alberto Gilardino then wasted a great chance in the goalmouth before his mistimed header on Iaquinta's cross found the back of the net in stoppage time.
Slovakia got off to the best possible start in the second half when Vittek displayed some excpetional control before the ball was passed through to Miroslav Stoch who rounded Marchetti for an easy finish in the 54th minute. Moments later and it could have been 2-2 when Zambrotta's crossfield ball was intercepted allowing Stoch and Strba to break in on a panicking defence that did just enough to deflect Strba's shot for the first in a series of corners where Vittek forced a good save out of Marchetti.
Italy looked to close out the game towards the end but Pepe shot wide, Iaquinta hit the post and Chiellini was stopped by the legs of Jan Mucha.
Slovakia 1 - 2 Italy
Goalscorers:
ITA Iaquinta 34'
ITA Gilardino 45'
SVK Stoch 54'
Discipline:
ITA Criscito 39'
ITA Maggio 71'
ITA Marchisio 87'
Man of the Match:
Vincenzo Iaquinta
| GROUP F | ||||||||
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Italy | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 5 |
| New Zealand | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
| Paragauy | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 1 |
| Slovakia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
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