Slovakia 3, Italy 2
Entering Thursday in last place with only one point, Slovakia needed to beat Italy and have New Zealand lose or tie in order to advance. Italy won the 2006 World Cup and, at the very least, had its sights set on a trip outside of the group stage. But after scoring just one goal in two matches, Slovakia pounded Italy with three goals to secure the improbable win, plus got the help it needed from Paraguay.
Robert Vittek opened the scoring in the 25th minute after taking a feed at the top of the penalty box and putting one past Italy goalkeeper Federico Marchetti just inside the right post to put Slovakia up 1-0. Vittek doubled his team’s lead in the 73rd minute, giving Slovakia a 2-0 advantage after beating Giorgio Chiellini one-on-one and drilling the ball into the back of the net. A supposed insurmountable lead was cut in half by Antonio Di Natale in the 81st minute, but Kamil Kuponek put Slovakia up two goals once more in the 89th minute. Kuponek sprinted toward the box on a throw in and split two defenders as he corralled the ball, chipping it over Marchetti as he came out of the net.
Italy made it interesting when Fabio Quagliarella scored two minutes into stoppage time, sending a ball over the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Jan Mucha and under the crossbar, putting Slovakia on the ropes. But despite nearly seven minutes of stoppage time — only four were called for — Italy couldn’t break through, eliminating them from the World Cup and preventing a chance at a repeat, while allowing Slovakia to advance.
Paraguay 0, New Zealand 0
The only way Slovakia could advance was if New Zealand tied or lost to group leader Paraguay, and that’s exactly what the All Whites did. For some reason, New Zealand played the game not to lose, logging just four shots, none on net, and controlling the ball for only 34 percent of the match. Once again, New Zealand played wonderful defense and goalkeeper Mark Paston registered some great saves, but it couldn’t get its offense going until it was too late.
New Zealand was undefeated in its three games (all draws), but its three points fell one short of Slovakia, which jumped ahead with four points thanks to their win over Italy. Paraguay won the group with five points.
Standings
Group A
Uruguay (2-0-1, 7 points, 4 goals, 0 goals against)
Mexico (1-1-1, 4 points, 3 goals, 2 goals against)
South Africa (1-1-1, 4 points, 3 goals, 5 goals against)
France (0-2-1, 1 point, 1 goal, 4 goals against)
Group B
Argentina (3-0-0, 9 points, 7 goals, 1 goal against)
South Korea (1-1-1, 4 points, 5 goals, 6 goals against)
Greece (1-2-0, 3 points, 2 goals, 5 goals against)
Nigeria (0-2-1, 1 point, 3 goals, 5 goals against)
Group C
USA (1-0-2, 5 points, 4 goals, 3 goals against)
England (1-0-2, 5 points, 2 goals, 1 goal against)
Slovenia (1-1-1, 4 points, 3 goals, 3 goals against)
Algeria (0-2-1, 1 point, 0 goals, 2 goals against)
Group D
Germany (2-1-0, 6 points, 5 goals, 1 goal against)
Ghana (1-1-1, 4 points, 2 goals, 2 goals against)
Australia (1-1-1, 4 points, 3 goals, 6 goals against)
Serbia (1-2-0, 3 points, 2 goals, 3 goals against)
Group E
Netherlands (2-0-0, 6 points, 3 goals, 0 goals against)
Japan (1-1-0, 3 points, 1 goal, 1 goal against)
Denmark (1-1-0, 3 points, 2 goals, 3 goals against)
Cameroon (0-2-0, 0 points, 1 goal, 3 goals against)
Group F
Paraguay (1-0-2, 5 points, 3 goals, 1 goal against)
Slovakia (1-1-1, 4 points, 4 goals, 5 goals against)
New Zealand (0-0-3, 3 points, 2 goals, 2 goals against)
Italy (0-1-2, 2 points, 4 goals, 5 goals against)
Group G
Brazil (2-0-0, 6 points, 5 goals, 2 goals against)
Portugal (1-0-1, 4 point, 7 goals, 0 goals against)
Ivory Coast (0-1-1, 1 point, 1 goal, 3 goals against)
North Korea (0-2-0, 0 points, 1 goal, 9 goals against)
Group H
Chile (2-0-0, 6 points, 2 goals, 0 goals against)
Spain (1-1-0, 3 points, 2 goals, 1 goal against)
Switzerland (1-1-0, 3 points, 1 goal, 1 goal against)
Honduras (0-2-0, 0 points, 0 goals, 3 goals against)
Coming Up: North Korea, already eliminated from advancing, hopes to spoil the Ivory Coast’s slim chances at advancing at 10 a.m. (ET) on Friday. Portugal and Brazil, the two teams likely advancing out of Group G, also play at 10 a.m. The final matches of group play start at 2:30 p.m., with Switzerland-Honduras and Chile-Spain the two matchups.
Here's the complete World Cup schedule.
