Image via WikipediaItaly versus Paraguay. World champions Italy came into this world cup with an aged squad with as many as 9 players from last world cup winning squad playing this year also. They don't have a play maker like Totti. Still, they were supposed to win this match easily.
The match started with Italians raiding the Paraguayan goal post again and again. The Paraguayan defense was up to it, taking the ball from Italians and firing it back in counter attack. Both teams played aggressively, all players played great, even the miss timed passes were over looked because the pass was intersected beautifully and counter attack launched immediately. Around 20 minutes into the game, torrential rain started to pour down in cape town, and immediately, the game changed into different mode. Paraguay started making good attacks into Italian defense. One particular ball which was given to Montevilo was lost due to lack of confidence in the player. Pepe played great. And then Italian opera started. The Italian players started to tumble down on imaginary feet. The Paraguayans rather than worrying about this started playing good football. If Italians got ball, they came on the ball like a pack of wolves, and squeezed the ball from the Italians. Paraguay got a free kick at 40 yards and Torres gave a good curling ball into the penalty area, where the Alcarez out jumped an old Cannavaro, who I remember heading off even more dangerous free kicks in last world cup, and the ball went inside the goal post, and Buffon could only stand like Homer Simpson in Nike ad. Italians started to worry but slowly and surely, Paraguay took the game from Italians. Marcello Lippi started to look dejected in the box. The half time whistle came and Italians needed that break. Paraguayan players got together in a team huddle and looked forward for the win.
After the half time, a charged Italian team started their counter attacks, with Lippi changing Buffon with Marchetti, and getting in Cameronesi, to get a more sweeping attacks along with Zambarotta. A set piece 20 minutes into the second half, taken quickly by Pepe found a glaring hole in penalty box which was taken happily by De Rossi, and Italy equalized. Now it was Paraguay's turn. They decided to bring in experienced striker Roque Santa Cruz to try and get one more inside Italy's bars. Paraguayan defenders especially Valdes, Bonet and Morell had tough time checking Zambarotta and Pepe, while Vera tried the famed Italian defense. Caceres was living dangerously while getting a yellow card, and saving one too many potential goals for Italians. Both coaches wanted a win, bringing in their in form strikers – Di Natale for Italy and Cardozo for Paraguay. The final minutes were going to be exciting. Villar, captain and goal keeper of Paraguay, was not going to make anymore mistakes taking in all the balls firmly in both hands, denying Pepe time and again, both with set piece and run ins. Suddenly Italians were looking dangerous. Di Natale and Iaquinta in right and Pepe and Cameronesi in left started making Paraguay look very pedestrian. The slow starters were fully charged and looking for a win, rather than a draw. Paraguay seemed to look for the long whistle to blow. And it blew, along with a sigh of relief from Paraguayan players and supporters.
The best player of the match was Pepe, though Di Natale would have been equally impressive had he been in the starting eleven. Villar was good, except for that one moment, which denied his country of win, instead of this draw.
Italy 1(De Rossi) – Paraguay 1(Alcarez)
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