World Cup 2010 Group F: Italy 1-1 Paraguay

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World champions Italy battled back for a 1-1 draw against Paraguay in their opening Group F match in Cape Town.

The South Americans stunned their opposition when Antolín Alcaraz rose highest to head home a free-kick in the 39th minute.

But Italy fought back after the break and equalised with just over 20-minutes left as Daniele De Rossi prodded home a corner after goalkeeper Justo Villar missed his punch.

Lineups:

Italy: Gianluigi Buffon (Federico Marchetti, 46); Gianluca Zambrotta, Fabio Cannavaro, Giorgio Chiellini, Domenico Criscito; Riccardo Montolivo, Daniele De Rossi; Simone Pepe, Claudio Marchisio (Mauro Camoranesi, 59); Vincenzo Iaquinta; Alberto Gilardino (Antonio Di Natale, 72)

Paraguay: Justo Villar; Carlos Bonet, Antolín Alcaraz, Paulo da Silva, Claudio Morel; Enrique Vera, Víctor Cáceres, Cristian Riveros, Aureliano Torres (Jonathan Santana, 60); Nelson Haedo Valdez (Roque Santa Cruz, 68), Lucas Barrios (Óscar Cardozo, 76)

Statistics:

Shots on target :	5	-	1
Shots off target :	1	-	6
Ball possession (%) :	52	-	48
Corner kicks :	8	-	4
Offsides :	3	-	4
Fouls :	15	-	14
Yellow cards :	1	-	1
Red cards :	0	-	0

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Also see:

• World Cup 2010 Group F: New Zealand 1-1 Slovakia