New Zealand 1 Italy 1: Another World Cup shocker for the European superpowers

World champions Italy joined the growing list of misfiring European big guns when they were held to an incredible 1-1 draw by New Zealand in Nelspruit – and the world’s fifth best side came within inches of defeat against the 2,000-1 outsiders ranked No87 by FIFA.

The All Whites star? Mark Paston, a 33-year-old goalkeeper who failed to make it with Bradford, Walsall and Scotland’s St Johnstone when he tried to hit the big time in Britain six years ago. He managed 24 games in three seasons and went back to New Zealand, where he now dons gloves for Wellington Phoenix in the A League.

The dynamic deadlock at the impressive Mbombela Stadium was another huge blow for the so-called superpowers of Europe - 1998 champions France are on the brink of elimination in Group A, where even a win against hosts South Africa on Tuesday may not save them. Today comes news that the French boycotted training over Nicolas Anelka being sent home for insulting boss Raymond Domenech.

England and Germany both require solid wins in their final games to go through from Groups C and D. And favourites Spain were beaten 1-0 by Switzerland in their opening Group H encounter.

Now holders Italy are under huge pressure to win their final game against Slovakia at Ellis Park on Thursday. New Zealanders are locked on two points with the Azurri in the Group F table, which is topped by Paraguay, one of several South American teams looking unexpectedly strong in South Africa.

As predicted here weeks ago the Rainbow Nation, blessed with three or four different climates and vast variations in altitude, is producing the most unpredictable of World Cups.

Italy, struggling without injured pair Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo, went behind after just seven minutes. Before this clash, boss Marcello Lippi had warned his side about the All Whites’ strength in the air – and when Simon Elliott’s free kick was whipped in, tall defender Winston Reid flew high to flick on. Italy’s World Cup-lifting captain Fabio Cannavaro could only deflect the ball to Shane Smeltz, who notched his 20th goal in 37 internationals past Federico Marchetti.

While the world’s most expensive goalkeeper Buffon looked on, 33-year-old Paston, cheap and cheerful, denied Riccardo Montolivo before Gianluca Zambrotta sent yet another free kick just over the bar with the superlight Jabulani ball.

Montolivo hit a post as the pressure mounted – but the equaliser when it came was highly controversial. Ipswich defender Tommy Smith challenged Daniele De Rossi for a cross – and Guatemalan referee Carlos Batres pointed to the spot.

Afterwards New Zealand captain Ryan Nelsen, who earns his crust at Blackburn, said: “That was a great result for us, we fight all the way. But their goal was not a great decision.”

Smith was cautioned before Juventus striker Vincenzo Iaquinta put the spot kick away.

Lippi made changes as he attempted to grab all three points – but it was New Zealand who nearly went ahead after half-time when Ivan Vicelich lashed a fierce volley just wide.

Paston saved from Montolivo again but at the other end, Wood waltzed past Cannavaro but put his shot just wide.

Italy’s Argentinian Camoranesi forced another decent stop from Paston but it was New Zealand who nearly snatched it when West Brom’s 18-year-old Kiwi Chris Wood put his left-foot shot just wide.

In the opening game on day nine, Paraguay – building on their opening draw against Italy – dispatched Slovakia 2-0 in Bloemfontein with Enrique Vera and Cristian Riveros on the score sheet.

Paraguay defender Paulo da Silva beamed: “We played the perfect game. We scored early, we defended well and then we killed them off at just the right time. We’ve taken a very big step and we’ve almost achieved our major objective. Against New Zealand we need to go in with the same attitude if we want to win. Qualification is in our hands now.”

Neal Collins is in South Africa to complain about England's performance and promote his first novel A GAME APART. See www.nealcollins.co.uk.

To see Neal at the National Arts Festival on July 4, go tohttp://www.computicket.com/web/event/neal_collins_a_game_apart/148367625.

World champions Italy 1, Paraguay 1... and the reign may soon be over

Italy clawed their way to a point against underdogs Paraguay – but the world champions’ reign looked uncertain in the rain of Cape Town.

The South Americans, ranked 31 in the world, were the stronger side for an hour. After 39 minutes Aureliano Torres swung in a free-kick and Antolin Alacaraz rose above Fabio Cannavaro and Daniele de Rossi to head home beautifully.

With an upset on the cards against the holders, ranked fifth in the world, looked to have no way back until Paraguan goalkeeper Justo Villar produced an error very bit as bad as Robert Green’s in its own way.

He came out to slap at Simone Pepe’s 63^rd minute corner, missed completely, and Daniele De Rossi prodded home the equaliser. For the rest of the game, Italy piled on the pressure – but were unable to produce the first come-from-behind victory of this World Cup.

In Bloemfontein, Japan beat Cameroon 1-0 in Group E with CSKA Moscow’s KeisukeHonda engineering the only goal after 39 minutes.

Cameroon, Africa’s highest-ranked side here at 19, had never lost their opening game and reached the quarter-finals in 1990 – the continent’s best-ever performance.

French coach Paul Le Guen, the former Rangers boss, inexplicably left Arsenal’s Alex Song on the bench and appeared to be playing the great Barcelona and Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto’o as a right midfielder.

Cameroon were lacklustre throughout, though they awoke in the last five minutes to hit a post in the last minute through Stephane M’Bia. Le Guen lamented: Le Guensaid: "I’m upset that we have lost - our attitude was wrong. We were tense and nervous, especially in the first half. We did not show what we are capable of. We were not at our level and kept losing possession.”

Should have started with Song then, surely? Japan boss Takeshe Okad, who saw his side lose all five of their World Cup warm-up games, said: “I don’t think it was a great success – what’s important is the next game.”

That’s against Holland in Durban on June 19. The Dutch remain favourites to win Group C after a comfortable 2-0 win over Denmark. They didn’t sparkle at Soccer City in the opening game on day four, but an own goal by Danish defender Daniel Agger and a tap-in from Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt proved too much for the not-so-great Danes.

Dutch boss Bert van Marwijk was going orange in the face at time and growled: "I have said 100,000 times that sometimes we are arrogant and that might backfire on us, and I have told my players from day one and we must not fall into that trap."

Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba is awaiting permission from FIFA to play with as cast on his broken arm before their opening clash against Portugal in Port Elizabeth tomorrow.