**Already without injured midfielder Andrea Pirlo, Italy’s fortunes took another hit when it lost perhaps its most valuable player, goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, after the first half. The 32-year-old Buffon was removed due to a back injury, reaplced by inexperienced backup Federico Marchetti
Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino left Roque Santa Cruz on the bench and started a two-man forward line of Nelson Valdez and Lucas Barrios.
Italy was organized from the start, pushing up the right flank with Gianluca Zambrotta and Pepe, but the Azzurri had trouble getting the ball in attacking position. Paraguay was content to sit back and wait for counterattacks and didn’t venture into Italy’s half until the 20-minute mark.
Paraguay took the lead in the 39th minute when Antolin Alcaraz scored with a header, soaring above Fabio Cannavaro and De Rossi to head a long-range free kick from Aureliano Torres past goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
In second half De Rossi found the net from Pepe's corner in the 63rd minute. Goalkeeper Justo Villa came for the ball but missed it, allowing the Italy midfielder to sneak in at the far side for the equalizer at Green Point Stadium.
Daniele De Rossi scored in a goalmouth scramble to put Italy into a 1-1 tie with Paraguay in their Group F opener at the World Cup with 15 minutes left.
Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino left Roque Santa Cruz on the bench and started a two-man forward line of Nelson Valdez and Lucas Barrios.
Italy was organized from the start, pushing up the right flank with Gianluca Zambrotta and Pepe, but the Azzurri had trouble getting the ball in attacking position. Paraguay was content to sit back and wait for counterattacks and didn’t venture into Italy’s half until the 20-minute mark.
In second half De Rossi found the net from Pepe's corner in the 63rd minute. Goalkeeper Justo Villa came for the ball but missed it, allowing the Italy midfielder to sneak in at the far side for the equalizer at Green Point Stadium.
Daniele De Rossi scored in a goalmouth scramble to put Italy into a 1-1 tie with Paraguay in their Group F opener at the World Cup with 15 minutes left.
Team Line-Ups:
Italy: Gianluigi Buffon (Federico Marchetti 46), Gianluca Zambrotta, Fabio Cannavaro, Giorgio Chiellini, Domenico Criscito; Riccardo Montolivo, Daniele De Rossi, Claudio Marchisio (Mauro Camoranesi 59); Vincenzo Iaquinta, Alberto Gilardino (Antonio Di Natale 72), Simone Pepe.
Paraguay: Justo Villar, Carlos Bonet, Paulo Da Silva, Claudio Morel, Enrique Vera, Victor Caceres, Cristian Riveros, Aureliano Torres (Jonathan Santana 60), Nelson Valdez (Roque Santa Cruz 69), Lucas Barrios (Oscar Cardozo 77), Antolin Alcaraz.
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