The 2010 World Cup finals suffered its second major shock when defending champions Italy failed to get past the first round.

The Azzurri were victims of a massive upset when unfancied 34th world ranked Slovakia humiliated the fifth best team in the world 3-2 at a packed Ellis Park on Thursday to qualify along with Paraguay who won the group after a 0-0 draw with New Zealand in their match played simultaneously in Polokwane on Thursday for the knockout phase of the tournament.

It was an amazing 90 minutes that ended in tears for the outplayed Italians and joy and delight for Slovakia who did a lap of honour at their greatest ever victory.

Two goals – one in each half from Turkish based striker Robert Vittek and a last minute strike from substitute Kamil Kopunek sunk the sad out of sorts Azzurri and ended their hopes of defending the crown they won in Germany in 2006.

The Italian fans who were in the majority of the capacity were stunned to silence by the inept display of the defending champions who like France, the side Italy defeated in the 2006 World Cup finals, are on their way to the OR Tambo Airport following their failure to get win a single match in their three group games.

Azzurri finished bottom of the group with two points form two disappointing draws against Paraguay and New Zealand.

France, who were the world champions in 1998, were humiliated 2-1 by South Africa in Bloemfontein on Tuesday and they returned to Paris also without winning any of their group matches.

Italy and coach Marcello Lippi came into the tournament under a cloud of criticism that their side was ageing and not ready for the World Cup.

But again Fifa president Sepp Blatter's stubborn refusal to use technology denied Italy an equaliser with the scored at 1-0 in the 67th minute when Skrtel booted another Azzurri substitute Fabio Quagliarella's shot from his goalline but television replays suggested the ball had crossed the line.

But English referee Howard Webb waved play on and refuse to listen to the Italian players appeals.

The defending champions hopes of survival in the tournament hung by a thread at halftime as the unfancied Slovakia went into the break 1-0 ahead thanks to a well taken and deserved goal from their Turkish based Vittek in the 25th minute.

Italy needed to win to stay alive in the World Cup and on their first half display they did not look to be up for the challenge. A draw would not see the Azzurri reach the next round. They looked like a side that was not interested and were looking forward to their holidays.

Italy made a couple of early half hearted attempts. Antonio di Natale chipped wide of the Uzzurri goal in the opening minute. Then Di Natale set up Vincento Iaquinta but the Juventus forward miskicked and shot wide in the fourth minute.

But the Slovakians got their act together and their Italian based captain Marek Hamsik shot wide in the sixth minute.

Italian reserve keeper Frederico Marchetti, deputising for the injured Gianluigi Buffon, punched away Miroslav Stoch's free kick in the 13th minute.

The Italian fans in the capacity crowd were silenced in the 25th minute when Juraj Kucka threaded through a great ball for Vittek who beat Marchetti at the far post with a well hit ground shot to put the underdogs into a shock 1-0 lead.

Azzurri failed to get out of their complacency and it took a superb save from Marchetti to deny Zdenko Strba another goal for Slovakia in the 35th minute.

The only time that Italy threatened was in the 40th minute when Slovak defender Martin Skrtel headed over a loos high ball that.

The Liverpool defender had enough power on his header to avoid scoring an embarrassing own goal.

The in injury time Italy had another near escape when a thunderous 25 metre volley from Sparta Prague midfielder Kucha flew centimetres past the post with Marchetti at full stretch.

Italy showed more fight after the break. Iaquinta headed a Simone Pepe cross wide of the Slovakian goal in the 50th minute. A good save by Slovak keeper Marek Cech denied substitute Giampaolo Pazzini an equaliser with a long range effort in the 63rd minute.

The came Skrtel's goal line save in the 67th minute from Quagliarella.

But it looked all over in the 73rd minute when the livewire Vittek blasted home a cross form Hamsik at the near post to make it 2-0 and sent the band of Slovakian supporters into wild celebrations.

Cech did well to put his body on the line and block a close range shot form D Natale in the 79th minute.

But Di Natale was rewarded for his effort when he reduced the deficit in the 81st minute from the rebound after Cech had parried Quagliarella's shot. Quagliarella thought he had equalised but his 85th minute strike was disallowed for offside.

But just to rub salt into Italy's wounds Kopunek netted after collecting a throw-in and chipped the ball over Marchetti to make it 3-1.

Italy finally showed some fight and the never-say-die Quagliarella scored a great goal in injury time to make it 3-2 but it was too little to late as Italy became the first defending championsto failed to reach the second round.