England advance after 1-0win

Germany, Ghana into final 16

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Defending champion Italy was eliminated from the World Cup today after a humbling 3-2 loss that sent Slovakia through to the round of 16.

For the third consecutive match, the Azzurri conceded an early goal, and this time they never recovered. Robert Vittek put Slovakia ahead in the 25th minute at Ellis Park, taking advantage of an errant pass from midfielder Daniele De Rossi. He then doubled the lead from close range in the 73rd following a corner.

Antonio Di Natale pulled one back for Italy in the 81st, but Kamil Kopunek scored another in the 89th for the Slovaks. Fabio Quagliarella put in the final goal in injury time. Paraguay won Group F with five points, and Slovakia finished second with four points. New Zealand exited with three points and Italy was last with two, marking the first time the Azzurri have finished last in their group.

Italy also allowed early goals in its opening 1-1 draws with Paraguay and New Zealand, and the Azzurri attack struggled in all three games — save for the final 10 minutes against Slovakia. It was the end of an era for Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro and midfielder Gennaro Gattuso, who already announced they would retire from the national team after the tournament. Coach Marcello Lippi is also moving on, with Cesare Prandelli already named as his successor.

Di Natale slid in a rebound from a Quagliarella shot and — with four forwards on — Quagliarella nearly equalised in the 85th but he was ruled offside. Slovakia restored its two-goal lead in the 89th when Kopunek lifted a bouncing ball over Italy reserve goalkeeper Federico Marchetti, who again played in place of the injured Gianluigi Buffon. Quagliarella finally found the target in the second minute of injury time with a powerful long-range shot. Still, for 80 minutes Italy's forwards were unable to find the target, and no forward scored in open play during the Azzurri's opening two matches. Italy hasn't won since beating Sweden 1-0 in a friendly in November, drawing five times and losing twice.

With France also eliminated, it's the first time that both previous World Cup finalists have been sent home after the group phase.