Slovakia bounces Italy out

JOHANNESBURG - The stunned looks and the tears told the story - for both teams.

For defending champion Italy, the ignominy of being sent out of the World Cup in the first round sank in immediately.

"Tonight, we touched rock-bottom," said midfielder Gennaro Gattuso.

For Slovakia, which beat Italy, 3-2, Thursday to advance - well, the celebrating might not stop before Monday's second-round knockout game against the Netherlands.

"We've shown that we're not here for a holiday," said Slovakia forward Erik Jendrisek.

The party ended in stunning fashion for the four-time champion Azzurri, who finished last in an opening-round group for the first time.

"I take full responsibility," said coach Marcello Lippi, who led Italy to the 2006 championship. "If the squad went out with fear in their legs and hearts, it means the coach didn't prepare the match well tactically or psychologically."

For the third consecutive game, the Azzurri allowed an early goal and, this time, they never recovered.

Robert Vittek put Slovakia ahead in the 25th minute, taking advantage of an errant pass from midfielder Daniele De Rossi. Vittek doubled the lead from close range in the 73d following a corner kick.

Antonio Di Natale scored for Italy in the 81st, but Kamil Kopunek ended Italy's chances eight minutes later, even though Fabio Quagliarella scored in injury time for Italy.

"We didn't win a game and it's everyone's fault," playmaker Andrea Pirlo said. "We're a team and we've got to assume responsibility all together."

It was Italy's first loss at the World Cup since allowing a golden goal to South Korea in the second round in 2002. And it marked the end of an era for Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro (a rumored transfer target for the Union) and Gattuso, who already announced their retirement from the national team after the tournament. Lippi is also moving on, with Cesare Prandelli already chosen as his successor.

Italy's squad featured nine players 30 or over and Prandelli will be charged with a major overhaul. Italy hasn't won since beating Sweden, 1-0, in a friendly in November, drawing five times and losing twice.

"It's not a very good moment for Italian football, but the level of the Italian game isn't what you saw tonight," Lippi said.

Never have the previous World Cup finalists both failed to advance in the next tournament when both qualified. France, which lost to Italy on penalty kicks for the 2006 title, went out earlier this week in Group A.

Slovakia plays next in Durban against the Netherlands, which won Group E. Many of the Slovak players were in tears at the end of the match, and the reserves gathered in a circle, jumping up and down in celebration. It is the first World Cup for Slovakia as an independent nation.