2010 FIFA World Cup: Slovakia v Italy 3-2
Posted on September 3, 2010
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In this forty-second match video, we relive the game played between Slovakia & Italy. Reigning champions Italy were sensationally knocked out of the World Cup by a Slovakia side that clinched a place in the last 16 with victory in a match of incredible drama and tension. In arguably the best game of the tournament so far, Robert Vittek scored a goal in each half to seemingly end the Azzurri’s hopes of defending the trophy they won in Germany four years ago. But Antonio Di Natale pulled it back to 2-1 with nine minutes remaining, leaving the Italians needing to score again to claim the point that would have seen them scrape through from Group F. And they thought it had come through substitute Fabio Quagliarella, only for the offside flag to agonisingly deny them. Italy’s hopes of advancing were then seemingly extinguished once and for all when Slovakia substitute Kamil Kopunek exploited defensive hesitation, running onto a throw-in before lifting the ball brilliantly beyond advancing goalkeeper Federico Marchetti with one minute of normal time remaining. Even then, there was time for Quagliarella to score with a superb injury-time strike and Simone Pepe to scuff a far-post volley as Italy staged a last-ditch attempt to remain in the finals in South Africa. The win sees Slovakia claim second place behind group winners Paraguay – and ensures the campaign is already a resounding success for coach Vladimir Weiss and his team. But the 2010 World Cup will be remembered as a …