Holders Italy make exit, Japan go through
JOHANNESBURG. June 25. KAZINFORM Holders Italy were dumped out of the World Cup at the group stage on Thursday, joining the humiliation of fellow European power France; Kazinform refers to China Daily.
It marked the first time the winner and runner-up from the previous World Cup had both failed to reach the second round and stunned four times winners Italy who looked shameful and shell-shocked after their miserable tournament.
Both European giants finished bottom in their groups.
Slovakia, appearing for the first time as an independent nation, stunned the aging Azzurri 3-2 to reach the second round together with Paraguay in Group F.
Japan scored a convincing 3-1 win against Denmark in the highest-scoring day of the World Cup so far, with the net bulging 12 times.
Japan, looking the best Asian team, joined Netherlands as the qualifiers from Group E. Cameroon were already out but got a consolation goal before being beaten 2-1 by the Dutch; Kazinform cites China Daily.
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