Pepe holds his head as he wastes a gilt-edged chance to level the game and send Italy through as he scuffs a back-post volley wide when totally unmarked

Italian fans packed inside Ellis Park are in shock as the defending world champions prepare to bow out of this tournament in meek fashion

It's all Italy but have they got enough left in their ageing legs to claw themselves level in this tense finish?

Quagliarella puts the ball into the back of the net after a shot ricochets to him but the flag goes up for offside. Italy can't believe it and it was a marginal call at best

Italy are streaking forward now as a draw would take them through as group runners-up. Finger nails are being bitten inside Ellis Park now!

Di Natale latches onto a quick free-kick move but the flag goes up for a marginal offside as Mucha comes out anyway to block his low shot

Slovakia are keeping the ball effectively even though it is Italy who need to score and the Azzurri fans packed inside Ellis Park can't believe what is happening to their side

Italy can have no complaints as they've been easily second best in this match to a more committed Slovakia side

Chiellini saves Italy with a last-ditch tackle to prevent Hamsik from pulling the trigger when well placed just eight yards out

Stoch is played into acres of space and he closes in on goal, cuts inside the retreating Cannavaro, but drills his shot high and wide from the edge of the box

Skrtel is in the right place at the right time to get in the way of Quagliarella's goalbound shot on the line as the ball ricochets away to safety. The Liverpool defender looked suspiciously over the line but the referee waves play on

Maggio chases back to deny Stoch a clear run through on goal with some committed full-back play

Mucha is finally tested as he dives to pluck Di Natale's 20-yard bending shot out of the air with a comfortable save

Quagliarella doesn't look and tries to play in Zambrotta with an elaborate overhead pass which flies straight out of play

Pirlo came into this game carrying a calf injury and he doesn't look right. His touch is awful and he keeps giving the ball away cheaply

Cannavaro continues to look shaky at the back for Italy. He is letting every long ball forward bounce and it's as if he has forgotten the basis of defending!

Di Natale beats the offside trap but scuffs his ten-yard shot well wide as Italy continue to frustrate

Gianluca Zambrotta fails to trap a simple pass and the ball rolls out for a throw as howls of derision go up around the stadium

Marcello Lippi is barking out orders from the technical area but as yet it's having little or no effect

Mucha is told to get up by Webb as he rolls around claiming an injury following a collision with Quagliarella. He gingerly gets to his feet and unsurprisingly will be okay to continue!

There's no sign of urgency from the Azzurri and Slovakia look comfortable in their lead

Italy are seeing more of the ball in the early stages of the second half but they are yet to do anything with it

Kucka lashes a 25-yard volley inches wide of the upright as Slovakia come within a whisker on the stroke of half-time

Three minutes will be added to this first half - mostly for that injury stoppage

The Slovakia midfielder is still receiving treatment on the pitch but will be stretchered off. He was about to be replaced but wants to come back on until half-time at least

Strba requires treatment after being left with a nasty gash on his knee following a Gattuso tackle. That looks really horrible but it was accidental

Skrtel gets away with a header inches over his own crossbar as an early cross threatens to get Italy back into this match. The Liverpool defender made a real mess of that but got away with it

Montolivo mis-hits a 25-yard shot and Jan Mucha watches the ball roll harmlessly out of play for a goal-kick

Iaquinta lays the ball off to nobody and Italy's first-half performance at both ends of the pitch has been absolutely woeful

Marchetti dives at full-stretch to tip Strba's 30-yard free-kick around the post as Slovakia come close to a second goal

Slovakia continue to look the most dangerous side and these are worrying times for the reigning world champions

The Azzurri fans in the crowd look thoroughly unhappy as we approach the half hour. Italy just haven't got going

Montolivo clatters into Pekarik and is lucky to escape a caution in this niggly game

Marcello Lippi looks really agitated on the sidelines and it's understandable as Italy have been really poor

Martin Skrtel runs 40 yards through the middle with the ball but can't bunde his way through the last line of defence and Cannavaro hacks the ball clear

Jendrisek out-paces Giorgio Chiellini and Fabio Cannavaro to a loose ball and the Italian defence looks decidedly dodgy

Jan Durica races back and stabs the ball away from Iaquinta. He stays down holding his face claiming a loose elbow from the Italy striker and this match is almost certain to feature a red card or two

Hamsik almost picks out Vittek in space six yards out but Marchetti claims a low cross well when under pressure

Erik Jendrisek crashes to the ground theatrically claiming a foul from Fabio Cannavaro but Webb rightly waves play on

Gattuso sends Robert Vittek flying with a late tackle and this is getting really tasty

Webb is certainly earning his match fee with pushing and shoving galore at every set-piece

Peter Pekarik catches Gattuso with a high foot and is lucky to avoid an early caution

Marek Hamsik fluffs his lines as he mis-hits a left-foot volley from 15 yards and the ball bounces wide. Italy were all over the place at the back there and it should really have been 1-0

Federico Marchetti punches away a dangerous cross when he could have caught it as Slovakia threaten for the first time

Vincenzo Iaquinta snatches at a half-chance and an angled shot from 12 yards rolls hopelessly wide as Slovakia get away with a defensive mistake

Italy are controlling possession in these early stages with Slovakia chasing the ball

Di Natale shows instant attacking intent with a looping half-volley which lands comfortably wide of the upright