Italy - Paraguay - Daniele De Rossi scores to save a point for Italy

For a moment, there was an upset on the cards as Paraguay went in at half time 1-0 up, but actually the goal only served to wake Italy up because in the second half, they were a different team and they could have won.

( Paraguay)

n fact, I'll go so far to say had they played the first half like they played the second, they would have won, but they didn't and they would have learnt a lesson from that.

Paraguay are clearly not in South Africa to make up the numbers. They played some good football at times and I suspect they came out in the second half wanting to keep what they had rather than push for more, which didn't work out.

Italy clearly missed Andrea Pirlo in the middle but he will be back and if Italy can play like they did in the second for the rest of the tournament, then they will be hard to beat, if only because they will create chances.

( Italy)

Antolin Alacaraz put Paraguay ahead in the 40th minute when a free kick, from what seems like the Paraguay half it is that far out, is played in long and he jumps higher than everyone else to head the ball into the net past Buffon. They took the lead into the break.

After the break, Buffon didn't come back out and Italy had a job to do and they were well up for it. It took nearly twenty minutes for them to get the equaliser and it came from a corner. Simone Pepe crosses and the Paraguay keeper comes but doesn't get anywhere near it and Daniele De Rossi finds the ball at his feet. I wouldn't have missed that and he didn't.

Final score was 1-1 and Italy will be happiest but also maybe a little disappointed. Paraguay won't try to play a half of football defending again and if you are following our predictions, you will know that is eight out of eleven correct - who would have predicted a draw; just us!

Italy

Buffon (Marchetti, 46), Criscito, Chiellini, Cannavaro (c), Zambrotta, De Rossi, Pepe, Marchisio (Camoranesi, 59), Montolivo, Iaquinta, Gilardino (Di Natale, 72)

Paraguay

Villar (c), Morel Rodriguez, Da Silva, Torres (Santana, 60), Alcaraz, Caceres, Vera, Caceres, Riveros Nunez, Valdez (Santa Cruz, 68), Barrios (Cardozo, 76)

The 2006 World Champions began their Group Stage of the 2010 tournament against CONMEBOL side Paraguay. Italy come into this World Cup with almost no one picking them to repeat as champions. Paraguay know that any result in this match would put them in good position to move into the knockout stage.

Italy 1-1 Paraguay Video Highlights

The match highlights can be found here at Free Soccer Highlights.

Italy 1-1 Paraguy Recap

Paraguay would take a lead into the second half and were heading for victory until a goalkeeper mistake allowed Italy to get a 1-1 draw.

Overall, it was a good match for Paraguay who took the lead in the 39th minute with a Antolin Alcarez goal to make it 1-0. Unfortunately they would not hold onto it as Italy tied the match in the 63rd minute with a Daniel De Rossi goal. The goal shouldn’t have happened but the Paraguay goalkeeper misplayed a corner kick that allowed an open net for De Rossi.

The match would end at 1-1 with a point for both sides.

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Italy 1-1 Paraguay Match Stats

Italy Paraguay

10(5)	Shots (on Goal)	7(1)
15	Fouls	14
8	Corner Kicks	4
3	Offsides	5
57%	Time of Possession	43%
1	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
0	Saves	4