Italy vs Paraguay

14/06/10 Green Point Stadium, Cape Town

Paraguay 1-1 Italy

Goal Scorers: Antolin Alcaraz [P] & De Rossi [I]

Cape Town welcomed the World Cup winners with dreadful icy rain and chilly winds. I was shivering from just watching the screen as the cold bit into the players. I don't know why they did not make Cape Town a covered stadium knowing that it is has an awfully wet winter.

The strategy of the Paraguayan players had one very important element; their kit. What were those socks about? They looked like court jesters. Of course, this troubled the highly fashion conscious Italians, who were blinded by the stripes and the colour coordination. Then the South Americans played better soccer.

I was rather looking forward to Cannavaro because he is one of my favourite players, and I think that song they play in the Nike ad when he saves the goal is hilarious. I'm rather sorry about it, but if its one thing that the Italian team was yesterday, it was old. They looked tired, and the rain did not help. The lanky goalkeeper looked especially tired, and when he apparently injured his back, had to be substituted by somebody more sprightly.

Paraguay played better in the first half, scoring a good goal and the Italians in the second half, after been stared down by Marcello Lippi. However, it was not good enough. Paraguay would have won if it were not for the clumsy half save by the goalkeeper resulting in a final Italian goal and Gattuso doing the customary head hold with one of his teammates. The goalkeepers are getting a bit worrying rather.

A good match for the Paraguayans, keeping the Azzurri Champions at a draw. Though the Italians need get a bit more upbeat, and start going for goal

Pepe's attempt at a bicycle kick, should be followed by many. I really want to see somebody do one, after all, it's on the logo.