CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Italy opened defense of its World Cup title Monday with an underwhelming, rain- soaked 1-1 draw with Paraguay.
Paraguay defender Antolin Alcaraz scored on a header in the 39th minute of the Group F match.
“I can’t describe what I feel. Playing a World Cup is something very special,” Alcaraz said.
But Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi equalized from close range in the 63rd after a miscue by goalkeeper Justo Villar, sliding in to redirect a corner kick from Simone Pepe. It was a solid start for De Rossi, who was suspended for four games during Italy’s victorious 2006 run after bloodying the face of U.S. forward Brian McBride with a sharp elbow.
After a day of often intense rain, the match kicked off under a drizzle, leaving the field slippery. Temperatures stood at 46 degrees, but the swirling winds coming off the ocean made it feel colder.
“It was a good result, though we can’t say we played really well,” Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino said. “We have to take into account who is who. It’s not easy to play first against the last world champion.”
Netherlands 2, Denmark 0
JOHANNESBURG — The Dutch got an own goal in the 46th minute and broke through in the 85th minute, when Dirk Kuyt tapped in a rebound off the post from close range.
The Netherlands’ gift goal came as Robin van Persie beat an onrushing Thomas Sorensen to a long through ball down the left flank, then squared up and sent a cross into the area. Denmark defender Simon Poulsen had plenty of time and space to clear the ball, but his off-balance header bounced off teammate Daniel Agger’s back and into the net.
“That was like a bucket of cold water over our heads,” Denmark coach Morten Olsen said. “Simon Poulsen was one of our better players but he was unlucky. It’s one of those things that happens in soccer.”
After wasting a number of chances to double the lead, Van Persie sent Eljero Elia a nifty through ball, and the substitute’s shot went past Sorensen, hitting the post. But the ball bounced straight out toward Kuyt, who beat his marker to tap the rebound into an empty net.
Japan 1, Cameroon 0
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa — Coming off four straight exhibition losses in the buildup to the tournament, the Japanese earned their first World Cup victory on foreign soil when Keisuke Honda scored in the first half.
“As a team we had very little good luck in our warm-up games going into this match,” Honda said. “But as a team we were thinking: ‘Don’t be down. Be positive. Go for it.’ “
And it did against a favored Cameroon squad that was lifeless in the first half.
After a sloppy first 30 minutes, Japan broke the tie in the 39th when Daisuke Matsui’s curling cross from the right drifted over the heads of Cameroon defenders Nicolas Nkoulou and Stephane Mbia. The ball fell to Honda at the back post and the striker neatly controlled it and sent it past goalkeeper Hamidou Souleymanou.
