World Cup holders Italy came from behind to scrape a 1-1 draw with Paraguay in their opening Group F match played at a cold and rainy Green Point Stadium on Monday.
Paraguay were the sharpest team in the first half and got their reward when Antolin Alcaraz outjumped ageing Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro and Daniele De Rossi to head home a cross from Aureliano Torres on 39 minutes.
But Italy equalised when Paraguay's goalkeeper Justo Villar completely misjudged a corner, leaving De Rossi to score into an empty net with just over an hour gone.
The Italians seemed more in control in the last 15 minutes of a poor match.