Johannesburg: Defending world champions Italy were knocked out of the World Cup on Thursday when they lost 3-2 to Slovakia, for whom Robert Vittek scored twice.
Slovakia took a well deserved lead in the 25th minute when Vittek hit a low shot from the edge of the area just inside Italian keeper Federico Marchetti's right hand post.
Vittek touched in a low cross from the right wing to the near post for his second in the 73rd minute.
The Italians, without a win in Group F, looked uninspired for most of the game but they did start some desperate attacking in the second half and Antonio Di Natale pulled one back nine minutes from time.
Kamil Kopenek scored a late third for Slovakia before Fabio Quagliarella grabbed a second for Italy in time added on.
It is the first time in the World Cup that the two previous finalists, Italy and France, both went out in the group stage.
