Italy will not be at Qatar 2022 after failing to qualify for the 22nd FIFA World Cup. So, HITC Football has taken a look back at the Azzurri’s woeful title defence in South Africa in 2010.
North Macedonia stunned the Euro 2020 champions in March by winning their UEFA Path C play-off semi-final 1-0. It meant Italy failed to qualify for successive World Cups, having also failed to seal their place for Russia 2018 after losing 1-0 to Sweden during those play-offs.
Italy are one of the most successful nations in the history of the World Cup with four titles. Only Brazil have won more than the Azzurri and Germany (4) with a record five, as the only nation to also play at all 22 editions. Italy made their 18th finals appearance at Brazil 2014.
But Italy have been a disappointment on the global stage since lifting their last title in 2006 in Germany. The Azzurri have not won a single knockout stage match since beating France on penalties. That is because they exited the 2010 and 2014 editions after the group stage.
What was worse for Italy is that they had never failed to win any of their games at a finals before flying to South Africa as the defending champions. The Azzurri had only taken a win on seven prior occasions, and again in 2014. But they would not manage any during 2010.
The Italian press lamented an ‘ugly’ Italy and a ‘shameful’ World Cup defence in 2010
Italy only managing a draw with Paraguay and New Zealand meant a 3-2 defeat to Slovakia sent them home. Under Marcello Lippi, who lifted the World Cup in 2006, the Azzurri were a shambles in a group they should have walked as a favourite to secure back-to-back titles.
The Azzurri returned to Europe in disgrace with the Italian media seething from the scenes in South Africa. Turin-based newspaper La Stampa wrote ‘the aircraft called shame is ready to leave’, via The Guardian, after losing 3-2 to Slovakia left Lippi’s team bottom in Group F.
La Stampa added: ‘Italy, the world champions, leave South Africa to return home covered in sporting dishonour’. While La Repubblica wrote ‘shameful Italy’, and Corriere della Sera bemoaned an ‘ugly Italy. One of our ugliest national teams ever, actually, the ugliest ever.’
Italy were catastrophic at times in South Africa without the excuse of injuries to some of their key players. Lippi’s side lacked creativity as he backed some of his heroes from 2006 to repeat their magic. But his decision backfired horrifically as Italy offered a lifeless unit.
Lippi had retired from management after winning the World Cup in Germany but returned for an encore in South Africa. The 74-year-old – whose CV also lists a Champions League at Juventus in 1995/96 and five Serie A titles – would ultimately walk away again after 2010.
Paraguay set the tone for Lippi’s disastrous summer in South Africa
Italy started their World Cup defence in far from commanding fashion in 2010 as the 2006 champions fought back to hold Paraguay to a 1-1 draw. Lippi could almost count himself lucky to leave Cape Town with a point, as well, as Los Guaranies gave an impressive show.
Antolin Alcaraz handed Paraguay the lead nearing half-time as the defender’s header flew past Gianluigi Buffon. The veteran goalkeeper would then depart the action at the break. But Italy’s issues were not between the sticks, but rather an inability to control the game.
Simone Pepe struggled to fill the void of the injured Andrea Pirlo as Italy failed to create a sustained period of pressure. The Azzurri may have seen more of the ball, but they rarely had the answers for how to break down a structured and disciplined Paraguay defence.
In the end, Italy needed a helping hand from La Guaranies’ goalkeeper Justo Villar to draw level. The rarely-tested shot-stopper dropped a real clanger with just under half-hour left to play. His dire attempted punch at Pepe’s corner left Daniele de Rossi free to head home.
New Zealand pulled off one of the shocks of the summer against Italy
Italy’s 1-1 draw with Paraguay potentially gave New Zealand the belief that they could take a result against the defending World Cup champions in 2010. And just that they did, as the All Whites pulled off one of the shocks of the summer in South Africa by taking a 1-1 draw.
Lippi’s squad arrived in South Africa as the fifth-best nation in FIFA’s World Rankings, while New Zealand were just 78th. Yet the distance between them on the pitch was much, much less. Shane Smeltz gave the All Whites the lead in Nelspruit inside the first seven minutes.
The striker flashed his strike beyond Federico Marchetti with Buffon absent through injury. Fabio Cannavaro had lifted the 2006 World Cup as Italy’s captain, but could only help the ball onto Smeltz. Mark Paston then did well at the other end to keep New Zealand ahead.
Yet his save from Riccardo Montolivo’s free-kick would not stop the Azzurri onslaught as Gianluca Zambrotta and Montolivo again went close. Eventually, the pressure paid off as De Rossi went to ground somewhat easily under pressure from Tommy Smith inside the area.
Vincenzo Iaquinta would step up and convert from 12-yards out to draw Italy level at 1-1 with New Zealand. Both sides then enjoyed chances to snatch the advantage but neither could find a second goal. Ivan Vicelich did come within inches of scoring for New Zealand.
Slovakia sent defending World Cup champions Italy home in disgrace in 2010
Italy could still scrape through to the knockout stages as they defended their World Cup in 2010 if they beat Slovakia. But a 3-2 defeat to Sokoli at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg would see Lippi’s team return home in disgrace after failing to win a single group stage tie.
The defeat also meant Italy finished bottom of Group F as Paraguay took the top spot on five points to Slovakia’s four and New Zealand’s three. Los Guaranies and the All Whites drew 0-0 in their final game, with both ending the first round without tasting any defeats.
Italy and Slovakia played under intense pressure with a last 16 spot up for grabs. They did not decide the tie until the final whistle, either, with goals on 81, 89 and 92 minutes. Italy also had the ball in the net whilst the score was still 2-1… only for the offside flag to go up.
Robert Vittek lit up the Group F tie in Johannesburg with his goals either side of half time giving Slovakia a 2-0 lead. Antonio Di Natalie would slash Italy’s deficit in half nine minutes from time to put his side within a goal of advancing as the game became an end-to-end tie.
Italy did not advance from the group stage for the first time since 1974
Yet Kamil Kopunek exploited a moment of hesitation by Italy’s defenders on 89 minutes to restore Slovakia’s advantage. Only for Fabio Quagliarella to reply early into stoppage time. Then came the chance for Pepe to draw the Azzurri level and to reach the knockout stages.
But the winger fluffed his lines and scuffed his volley at the far post in the closing stages. A moment that would be costly as Italy’s disastrous title defence and 2010 World Cup came to a quick end. The first time the Azzurri did not progress from the group stage since 1974.
Italy had secured the title twice (1982, 2006), finished as runners-up in 1994, third in 1990 and fourth in 1978 since they last bowed out so soon into a World Cup. Yet the Azzurri would only repeat their failings in Brazil four years later and have not qualified again since.
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