Flawed Italy seek space and Andrea Pirlo after New Zealand draw

Faltering world champions Italy are dreaming of South Africa's wide open spaces after again being frustrated by a stout defence in Sunday's shock 1-1 draw with unfancied New Zealand in Group F.

The disappointing result in Nelspruit, which followed another 1-1 draw with Paraguay in their World Cup opener, means the Azzurri have to beat Slovakia in their final group game at Johannesburg's Ellis Park on Thursday to reach the second round.     

That might not be enough to top the group depending on Paraguay''s game with New Zealand but surprisingly Italy will not be too displeased if finishing second sets up a last 16 meeting with the powerful Netherlands.

"It changes from the last 16 because there are better teams and they leave more spaces," Vincenzo Iaquinta, who scored the 29th minute equaliser from the spot against New Zealand, told reporters. "But there''s a bit of fear we won''t go through."

Italy's belief that they can play better against more attacking opposition who do not pack their defence is an acknowledgement of how they have failed to be inventive and get behind the backlines of Paraguay and New Zealand.

Marcello Lippi's side have been slow moving the ball and the absence of quick one-twos or players skipping past their marker has been stark, with Alberto Gilardino particularly struggling.

World Cup winner Lippi, who steps down for a second time after the tournament to be replaced by Cesare Prandelli, is desperate for creative midfielder Andrea Pirlo to shake off a calf injury and play on Thursday having missed the two games.                                           

He is due to return to full training this week but his participation against Slovakia is not certain.

The fact Italy rely so heavily on the 2006 hero, who has had an average two years at AC Milan, is another indication of the lack of creative talent in the squad compared to other top nations given Francesco Totti and Antonio Cassano were left out.                

Inter Milan stormed to the European Cup title and a domestic double last term but none of their first team are Italian while the vast majority of this squad play for clubs who will not be in the Champions League next season.

Italy could even sneak into the knockout stages with a draw against Slovakia if Paraguay win, matching the three draws which put the Azzurri through in 1982 before going on to win the third of their four World Cups. 

Lippi will not want to take that risk, even if he prefers his archetypal slow starters to improve gradually through the tournament and not waste good performances in the early stages.

"There's no panic, I'm 62. I've won lots of big competitions," Lippi said. "We are just lacking something and let's hope we find it in the coming days."