SOCCER/GROUP F/Italy 1 Paraguay 1:WIGAN ATHLETIC players are not known for their capacity to humble the world champions on football's grandest stage but such a storyline might have played out in Cape Town last night, if not for a goalkeeping howler.
When Antolin Alcaraz completed his move to the DW Stadium last month, as a Bosman free agent signed from Club Brugge, Wigan manager Roberto Martinez said: “I think everyone will realise what a quality player Antolin is when we see him at the World Cup for Paraguay.”
Nobody told Italy. When the central defender rose to attack a free-kick in the 39th minute, to send the ball spinning beyond the rooted Gigi Buffon, they were forced to confront the unthinkable.
That Italy recovered in the second half owed everything to the unfortunate Justo Villar. The Paraguay goalkeeper, all at sea when Simone Pepe curled over an inswinging corner, failed to connect with his punch and Daniele De Rossi gobbled up a close-range volley.
Italy have only lost one competitive fixture under Marcelo Lippi and sullying that record on the first night of their title defence was not on their agenda. They were the better side, although their inability to fashion clear-cut chances caused some alarm. Their striker, Alberto Gilardino, ploughed a lonely furrow.
For Paraguay, this result will bolster their conviction that they can advance to the knockout phase.
Paraguay have, by common consent, their best squad, with silk, steel and, significantly, depth. Oscar Cardozo, Benfica’s 36-goal striker, was not fully fit but Gerrado Martino, the manager, could omit Roque Santa Cruz, which just about put the tin lid on the Manchester City striker’s season.
Martino put his faith in Borussia Dortmund’s Nelson Haedo Valdez and Lucas Barrios.
In the early running, however, there were cynical moments from his players. Cristian Riveros ought to have been sent off inside a minute for a horrible, over-the-top lunge at Riccardo Montolivo which, remarkably, went unpunished. Montolivo’s shin-pads did their job.
Then, after De Rossi had skipped a couple of challenges, sprayed the ball wide and galloped for the penalty area, he was tripped by Victor Caceres. Again, there was no whistle.
It was Italy, rather than Paraguay, who pressed. Pepe showed some fancy footwork and Montolivo and De Rossi impressed.
Yet the Italians were stunned just before the break. Aureliano Torres floated in a free-kick and, having got in front of De Rossi, Alcaraz outjumped Fabio Cannavaro to guide a textbook header into the corner.
Suddenly, Italy were required to dig themselves out of a hole. For all their patience and nonchalance in possession, they struggled to raise the tempo, to force the issue as they had to.
Sitting deep and looking to snap forward on the counter, Paraguay might have added a second goal in the 54th minute when Enrique Vera lashed a shot high and towards the near top corner. The ball deflected just wide, although no corner was given. By this time, Federico Marchetti had come on in goal for Italy, Buffon having been forced off at the interval.
Italy finished strongly, with Montolivo threatening to score the winner from distance but they were left thankful for gift offered to them by Villar.
