NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

World Cup: Italy 1-1 Paraguay, Italy Fall Short In The Pouring Rain

By David Jester

On a rainy evening in Cape Town Italy and Paraguay both began their World Cup campaigns and settled for a 1-1 Draw.

Italy were the better side in the first half but their play lacked any finesse and they struggled in the final third. Heavy rain drenched the surface and with just six minutes left in the half the Paraguayans stunned the Italians when Alcaraz nodded them in front from a whipped Free-Kick.

Italy made a few changes in the second half and with a new formation and the addition of Camoranesi they soon began to play some decent football. De Rossi scrambled in an equalizer on sixty-three minutes and Italy pushed for the win and the full three points; but they failed to find it.

An average start for the champions and a poor day for the Newsblaze predictions, I had a 100% tipping record before today but after a Cameroon defeat and an Italian draw here, the highs are dipping. Tomorrow is another day though and a big one in terms of both the betting and the tournament. Brazil and Portugal get their campaigns underway against North Korea and Ivory Coast, whilst Slovakia start the day with a game against New Zealand.

David Jester is the Newsblaze Soccer expert. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/DavidJester