Hamburg, Germany – Marco Materazzi knew he had a tough task ahead when called on to replace an injured Alessandro Nesta early in a game that could decide whether Italy would stay alive at the World Cup.
Materazzi headed in a corner kick in the 26th minute to help Italy win Group E with a 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic on Thursday and avoid a second-round matchup with Brazil.
“It’s everyone’s dream to replace the greatest defender in the world and then score in the World Cup,” Materazzi said.
Materazzi’s goal helped knock out the Czech Republic and provided a pleasant distraction from a soccer corruption scandal back home. The game ended just a half-hour before four Italian clubs were ordered to stand trial in the scandal, which involves allegations of match-fixing, illegal betting and manipulation of referee assignments.
Juventus, AC Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina – which account for 13 players on Italy’s roster – face possible demotion from Serie A.
“We’re completely focused on the World Cup,” coach Marcello Lippi said. “The pressure we faced was the possibility of losing and going home. After the World Cup we can think about those things.”
Substitute Filippo Inzaghi scored on a breakaway in the 87th to clinch the victory for Italy, which won the group with seven points. Italy will face Australia on Monday in Kaiserslautern.
Lippi was especially pleased with how Materazzi and Inzaghi kept their focus while sitting on the bench for Italy’s first two games.
“In competitions like these you need to have patience,” Lippi said. “You can’t be nervous when your time comes or you won’t find yourself ready.”
The Czechs, ranked second in the world, were eliminated from the tournament, finishing with only the three points they earned in their opening 3-0 win over the United States.
The Czechs were reduced to 10 men when Jan Polak picked up his second yellow card in first-half injury time. They also ended up with only 10 men in their loss to Ghana.
“We had to play twice against strong opponents with only 10 men,” Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner said. “It was almost impossible. We were troubled by a number of problems, including our own mistakes.”
AUSTRALIA 2, CROATIA 2
at Stuttgart: The Socceroos squeezed into the World Cup for the first time in 32 years through a penalty kick shootout with Uruguay. A pulse-stopping draw with Croatia has sent them into the second round, joining Group F winner Brazil.
The Australians came back twice in a tense match in which three players were sent off. Harry Kewell scored the equalizer in the 79th minute from close range.
“It was a terrific game … why football is so beautiful,” Australia coach Guus Hiddink said. “This team has a lion heart, to fight until the end. I think it was very hectic.”
Kewell added, “The team knew what I was capable of doing. They fed me the ball and I was out there, I was enjoying myself.”
Croatia took the lead in the third minute on a dipping free kick by Darijo Srna. Craig Moore tied it for Australia with a penalty kick in the 39th minute after Stjepan Tomas handled the ball in the box.
The Croats went up again in the 56th minute after a goalkeeping blunder by the Aussies’ Zeljko Kalac, who started for Mark Schwarzer.
Captain Niko Kovac shot from about 20 yards and the ball rolled over Kalac’s hands.
But Kewell put home a short shot off a scramble in the box, and Australia was headed for a matchup with Italy in Kaiserslautern on Monday.
Back in Australia, millions rose before dawn to watch the live broadcast, with crowds of thousands gathering before giant screens in Sydney and Melbourne.
More than 1,000 people at Circular Quay in downtown Sydney let out huge cheers, pumping their fists and waving Australian flags as Kewell slammed the ball home.
The cry was echoed in Melbourne, where more than 10,000 people, many with faces painted Australia’s green and gold colors, lit flares, waved flags with kangaroos wearing boxing gloves, and hollered their support before a giant television screen erected at Federation Square.
Making the second round was another triumph for Hiddink. The Dutchman led the Netherlands to the semifinals in 1998 and South Korea that far four years ago.
Today’s games
Ukraine vs. Tunisia, 8 a.m., ESPN2, KTVJ-14
Saudi Arabia vs. Spain, 8 a.m., ESPN, KCEC 50
Switzerland vs. South Korea, 1 p.m., ESPN2, KTVJ-14
Togo vs. France, 1 p.m., ESPN, KCEC-50
