JOHANNESBURG, June 22, 2010 (AFP) - Defending champions Italy face Slovakia in their Group F showdown on Thursday playing for their World Cup survival as the Azzurri face the shame of a first-round exit.
With just one game left to go in the group stages and after two 1-1 draws, Italy are in the same boat as fellow European giants France, Germany, England and Spain who could all exit before the Round of 16.
With just two points in Group F, the second-placed Italians must now beat Slovakia at Johannesburg's Ellis Park on Thursday to guarantee a place in the last 16, but another draw would see them through if Paraguay beat New Zealand.
But midfielder Daniele de Rossi says the Azzurri must raise their game significantly if they are to have any chance of defending their title.
"We'll have to improve quickly, because otherwise we won't be going far," he said on FIFA.com after the 1-1 draw with New Zealand.
"We weren't at our best and we can do a lot better than that.
"We were lacking up front. We played the entire match in their half but we don't have enough to show for it."
Italy are struggling to finish the chances they create which stems back to before the World Cup.
During their last seven matches only one forward, Fabio Quagliarella, who is not even first choice, has scored a goal from open play.
"But it's not just a problem with our forwards - it's the whole team that didn't play well," said De Rossi, who won the penalty which allowed Italy to draw with minnows New Zealand.
"The scenarios are not pretty - if we come second we play Holland, but so be it.
"It is useless making calculations - we know we must win and that's it. We all need to improve."
The Italians are not the only ones feeling the pressure.
Slovakia coach Vladimir Weiss has made a habit of walking out of press conferences at this World Cup after his side has recorded just a point from their opening two games and were beaten 2-0 by Paraguay on Sunday.
Weiss' side could still qualify for the Round of 16 if they beat the struggling Italians and Paraguay beat New Zealand in Polokwane.
The Eastern Europeans are also struggling up front as Slovakia enjoyed just one shot on goal in the entire 90 minutes against Paraguay as man-of-the-match Enrique Vera ran riot.
Weiss put the defeat to Paraguay down to two mistakes that cost them both goals. He said his side had failed to punish Paraguay for their mistakes.
He admitted the side's chances were not great, but pledged to do their best against the Azzurri.
"We will give everything in our last match against Italy," he said.
"My favourite (for the group) has always been Paraguay," he said.
"It's a good learning opportunity. We are very happy that we got to the World Cup."
Key to the game
Italy must find some goals from somewhere, anywhere, in what promises to be a tense affair between two sides playing for their World Cup survival. Defence will be the key as both sides are goal shy at this tournament, but the pressure is on defending champions Italy to at least make the Round of 16.
