2010 World Cup: Slovakia v Italy half time report
Slovakia 1 Italy 0
World champions Italy are just 45 minutes away from crashing out of the World Cup group stages after going 1-0 down against Slovakia.
Robert Vittek’s goal midway through the first half has rocked Marcello Lippi’s side, who must now come from behind to salvage their flagging World Cup campaign.
The Slovakians were on top throughout the opening stages of the match and should have taken an early lead through Marek Hamsik. The highly-rated youngster found himself in acres of space in the Italian box, but misfired his volley past Federico Marchetti’s far post.
Vittek would soon make amends for his teammates miss, though. Daniele De Rossi’s awful misplaced pass was intercepted easily by Hamsik, and he fed Vittek, who dispatched the ball past Marchetti from the edge of the area on the 24th minute.
Slovakia nearly scored again in stoppage time courtesy of a stunning effort from Juraj Kucka - fortunately for Italy, it only whistled into the side netting.
Things are getting desperate for the Italians, who’ve failed to seriously test Jan Mucha in the Slovakia net.
The next 45 minutes will be a true test for Italy’s World Cup winning coach. His reputation is on the line, and so are his players’.
How will they react?
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