Italy earned a point in their Group F opener, rallying from a goal down to draw Paraguay, 1-1, in Cape Town on Monday.
Paraguay will feel they could have taken all three points after going ahead from a well-taken set piece, but Italy remained resolute—despite at times looking shaky at the back—and eeked out an equalizer following yet another group-stage goalkeeping gaffe.
Steady rain made for a pacey match as the ball skipped around the wet surface, causing difficulties for both sides as they fought to keep possession. However, Italy looked surprisingly bright going forward in the early stages despite struggling to stay upright.
But Paraguay, as it turned out, didn't need to find their feet to earn the upper hand.
Having earned a free kick from 45 yards out just minutes before the break, they broke the deadlock when Aureliano Torres' curling serve found Antolin Alacaraz, who rose high above Fabio Cannavaro and Daniele De Rossi before heading Paraguay in front.
The goal asked questions of the vaunted Italian defense, as neither Cannavaro nor De Rossi appeared ready to challenge Alacaraz in the air.
And another defensive error by the Azzurri nearly handed Paraguay a second goal when Enrique Vera pounced on a fluffed clearance before sending his shot just wide shortly after the restart.
But De Rossi got a chance to atone for a sloppy first half by poking home Italy's equalizer after Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar lunged at Simone Pepe's looping cross without making contact. Unfortunately for Villar, de Rossi was there at the other end to stab home from 8 yards and save Italy a point.
Italy lost their starting goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon to injury at the break. Buffon was one of just three in the first XI on Monday that started in the Azzurri's World Cup final defeat of France in 2006.
Paraguay brought on Manchester City forward Roque Santa Cruz in the second half to provide a late offensive spark after starting with Borussia Dortmund duo Lucas Barrios and Nelson Valdez up top. Barrios, who scored 19 goals in the Bundesliga last season, made his competitive national team debut.
Group F play continues on June 20, when Paraguay face Slovakia and Italy take on New Zealand.
Scoring summary
PAR: Antolin Alacaraz, 39th minute
ITA: Daniele De Rossi, 63rd minute
Lineups
Italy: Buffon (Marchetti), Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Chiellini, Criscito, De Rossi, Marchisio (Camoranesi), Montolivo, Pepe, Gilardino (Di Natale), Iaquinta.
Subs not used: Maggio, Gattuso, Bocchetti, Palombo, Quagliarella, Pazzini, Pirlo, Bonucci, De Sanctis.
Paraguay:Villar, Bonet, Alcaraz, Da Silva, Morel Rodriguez, Vera, Victor Caceres, Riveros, Torres (Santana), Haedo Valdez (Santa Cruz), Barrios (Cardozo).
Subs not used: Diego Barreto, Veron, Caniza, Julio Caceres,, Edgar Barreto, Benitez, Ortigoza, Gamarra, Bobadilla.
Referee: Benito Archundia Tellez (Mexico)
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