World Cup Holders Italy Humiliated, Eliminated
In the 2006 World Cup finals, Italy didn't get what it deserved.
Instead, it won the competition with a brand of football that no child, no adult, no prison team should ever emulate.
In 2010, Italy was caught out trying to do something with which it has, in recent years, been entirely uncomfortable. Playing football.
In a performance largely as free of thought and imagination as a wooden laptop, Italy went down to Slovakia. And kept on going down.
Before they briefly picked themselves up for a farewell flourish, as if, when they go back home to discuss the matter with their psychiatrists, they can point to some understanding of their own problems.
Slovakia's 3-2 victory was highlighted by a complete lack of fear of the Italians and a complete exhibition of fear by the Italians.
At least until the Slovaks's Vitter put them up 2-0 in the 73rd minute.
True, six minutes before, Quagliarella's effort had been cleared off the line by Skrtel.
But somehow, while it was only 1-0, the Italians could continue to believe that they might still qualify the Italian way. With a late goal, a late penalty, perhaps.
Then Vitter was the swiftest to react to a cross and Italy was feel truth's eyebrows on its face.
Suddenly, the Italians came to life.
DiNatale scored after Mucha in the Slovak goal could only parry a shot.
Slovakia scored a third on the break, as Kopunek finished in some style.
Then Quagliarella, who had curiously not been used by Italian coach Marcello Lippi, scored one of the goals of the tournament with an exquisite chip that sailed over Mucha.
Still, positive football was still so fresh, so strange for this Italian team that they couldn't quite muster enough to equalize.
As the final whistle blew, Italy had to confront the fact that New Zealand, which also failed to qualify, had finished above it in the group.
Italy was bottom. Last. Finito.
In recent times, only the French team that won the World Cup in 1998 managed to be eliminated in the group phase of the next World Cup.
This Italian loss is fully reflective of the true state of Italian football.
Though Inter-Milan won this year's European Champions League, you will strain your eyes trying to find an Italian player making a contribution to that team.
While the Inter-Milan central defense is Brazilian, the central defense for the Italian team comes from Juventus, a team of abject abilities.
Italy will go home to face derision.
But what it should really be facing is a stern re-examination.
Slovakia, New Zealand and Paraguay, all finished above Italy and all simply played with more enterprise, more changes of pace and more joy.
It is hard to decide which of Italy or France has besmirched this World Cup more.
True, the Italians behaved well.
But their football was again cynical and lifeless.
Surely FIFA should request that Italy should stay in South Africa, and that France should return.
Then these two former footballing powers should be made to play one more game.
A sort of Razzies Final.
Yes, like the awards given the night before the Oscars for the worst movies of the year.
Now that would be fun to watch.
Chris Matyszczyk is an award-winning creative director who advises major corporations on content creation and marketing, and an avid sports fan. He is also the author of the popular CNET blog Technically Incorrect.
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