Italy and New Zealand finished 1-1 in Nelspruit as the champions

Italy and New Zealand finished 1-1 in Nelspruit as the champions were held by the minnows. Shane Smeltz opened the scoring early on, but Vincenzo Iaquinta responded from the spot for the Italians. Both still have the chance of advancing to Round of 16.

Interestingly, both coaches Marcello Lippi and Ricki Herbert did not make any changes to their outfield starting XI from the first matches in Group F. Although, the champions did switch from a 4-2-3-1 formation to a more comfortable 4-4-2 and Federico Marchetti replaced the injured Gianluigi Buffon as goalkeeper.

New Zealand remarkably took the lead on seven minutes. A set piece was floated in by Simon Elliott and Smeltz pounced from close range after Fabio Cannavaro failed to clear the ball. There was potentially an offside, as Winston Reid had flicked on the free-kick, but the goal stood after the ball came off the Italian captain.

Rory Fallon picked up an early booking after tangling with Cannavaro and putting a hand in his face, soon after Giorgio Chiellini missed his side's first real chance prodding well wide from a good position.

It was Gianluca Zambrotta who then tested his luck from long range and wasn't far away from finding the top corner with 20 minutes gone. The Azzurri were growing in confidence and Riccardo Montolivo's low drive from 25 yards hit the post.

Tommy Smith tried to defend Daniele De Rossi in the area, getting a hold of his jersey, and the Roma star went to ground easily to earn a spot-kick, which Iaquinta converted leaving goalkeeper Mark Paston with no chance.

Towards the end of the half, the Azzurri had plenty of possession and were patient when trying to carve out chances, but New Zealand continues to sit deep and hold them at bay as the initial 45 minutes ended 1-1, although Paston had to get a hand to De Rossi's powerful effort.

Lippi made two changes to start the second-half in order to add some bit to their attack, Antonio Di Natale and Mauro Camoranesi entered for Gilardino and Simone Pepe. It was Serie A's top-scorer this past season that made an immediate impact, as his volley from a tight angle was saved by the goalkeeper.

Herbert's men were pinned back futher and further, but held their shape well as they looked to keep out the Europeans, who struggled to find a breakthrough by the hour mark. So Lippi made his final substitution, bringing on Giampaolo Pazzini for his World Cup debut and Claudio Marchisio made way. On the opposite side, teenager Chris Wood replaced the ineffective Fallon.

On a rare opportunity for New Zealand, midfielder Ivan Vicelich hit a vicious strike from just outside the area, but it whizzed just wide of the post. Montolivo responded with a dipping effort, but Paston made a fantastic stop to keep out the Italians with 20 minutes left.

La Nazionale went on a swift counter, but Nelsen cleared the ball from inside the six yard box as his side went closer to a precious point against the 2006 World Cup winners. Waves of attack came from the four-time champions, but Di Natale's shot did not trouble the 'keeper once he escaped the intentions of the opponent's defence.

Italian supporters had their head in hands as Wood's shot flashed across the face of goal and missed by inches as space began to open up for them on the counter.

Camoranesi hit a brilliant shot from 30 yards, but Paston once again provided the crucial save with just minutes remaining.

The final whistle blew with Italy and New Zelaand both on two points and a win for either side would guarantee them passage into knock-out stages on the final match-day of the group stage.

Slovakia 0-2 Paraguay:

Paraguay have moved temporarily top of Group F and appear well on course for World Cup progression after beating Slovakia 2-0.

The opening half was controlled impressively by the Albirroja, though only Enrique Vera could find the net. Half-time seemed to half the South Americans’ momentum, but Slovakia barely stretched their opponents. Cristian Riveros secured the victory with five minutes remaining.

Having done well to pick up a point against Italy in their opening game, Paraguay showed plenty of early intent. In the opening couple of minutes the South Americans twice threatened, with a ball whizzed across goal by Lucas Barrios and then a deflected Roque Santa Cruz shot that Jan Mucha had to tip away from his top corner.

Slovakia were showing very little attacking intent, but their defence was standing pretty firm, allowing the Paraguayans only fleeting glimpses of goal. Paulo da Silva nearly got his head decisively to a wicked free kick before Martin Skrtel sacrificed possession in a bad area, beginning a sequence of events that ended with Riveros driving straight at Mucha.

Barrios and Nelson Valdez both shot off-target as la Albirroja increased their pressure.

Before the half-hour mark, the South Americans would deservedly grab the lead. Barrios linked superbly with his team-mates at times, but his deft pass to Vera was met by an equally astute finish from the midfielder, who timed his run superbly before bending the ball round Mucha with the outside of his boot under intense pressure.

After breaking the deadlock, the Paraguayan defence started having to work. Marek Hamsik nearly found Stanislav Sestak through on goal, and moments before Robert Vittek had just failed to connect with an early centre.

Santa Cruz replied at the other end of the field, though his chance largely came about due to sloppy Slovak play. A quick free kick yards outside of their own penalty box was taken short to Zdeno Strba, who quickly coughed up possession to Vera. The midfielder released the Manchester City player, who failed to beat Mucha.

There was a shift of emphasis on the Slovakian game after the interval. With only Italy left to play in this section, three points were vital in this game and their more attacking second half stance reflected this. Coach Vladimir Weiss was still somewhat loathed to commit his side in a gung-ho fashion, so the early stage of the second period were largely played in the centre of the field.

Indeed, neither goalkeeper was remotely threatened in the opening 15 minutes of the second period as the Europeans were pressing their opponents far more effectively, causing disrupting in the centre of the park.

The first real chance of a stodgy second half didn’t arrive until the 71st minute. A neat one-touch interchange down the Paraguayan left resulted in Santa Cruz galloping down the left touchline, from where he centred to Vera. Seeking his second goal, the midfielder headed downwards just painfully past the left hand post of Mucha’s goal.

Substitute Aureliano Torres chanced his arm from distance, but his shot rose a foot too high as the game started to petered out in a tame fashion.

With five minutes remaining, Paraguay locked down the three points. A free kick to the back post left the Slovakia defence scrambling, and when the ball broke to Riveros at the edge of the box, he drove firmly home.

In stoppage time, Justo Villar turned over a strong Vittek drive, leaving the Repre needing an unlikely victory over Italy in their final group game in order to have hope of progression.