Another soccer power is in trouble at the World Cup.
With defending champion France, Argentina and Portugal already stung, Italy was beaten 2-1 by Croatia on Saturday in Ibaraki, Japan.
The three-time winners from Italy blew a second-half lead. They also put two balls in the net, only to have the goals disallowed, enraging their players and coach.
“We had some bad luck today,” said Christian Vieri, who scored for Italy with a header in the 55th minute. “The linesman more than the referee penalized Italy. He voided goals without any reason.”
Ivica Olic slipped behind three Italian defenders to score in the 73rd minute. Three minutes later, Milan Rapaic sent in a whirling volley off a defender.
Earlier, the Italians thought they had scored when Vieri headed in a pass from midfielder Gianluca Zambrotta. But the officials ruled it offside. Then, in the closing minutes, a long pass trickled into the net untouched, but again officials overturned it, saying attacker Filippo Inzaghi pulled down a defender.
“Italy controlled the game and deserved to have drawn the game,” coach Giovanni Trapattoni said. “I don’t understand why our equalizer was not allowed.”
Mexico, which plays Ecuador on Sunday, and Italy each have three points. They’ll meet Thursday in a game Italy might need to win to advance.
Brazil 4, China 0: China had no chance against Brazil’s vaunted R attack. Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos all scored in Seogwipo, South Korea.
“We’re getting ready to be world champions, Carlos said.
China, the tournament newcomer, was all but eliminated. The Chinese can advance only by winning against Turkey and having Costa Rica lose its final two games–then win a tiebreaker.
South Africa 1, Slovenia 0: South Africa earned its first World Cup victory ever, eliminating Slovenia at Daegu, South Korea.
Siyabonga Nomvethe bumped the ball in with his thigh off Quinton Fortune’s free kick for the South African winner.
