Italy coach Marcello Lippi admitted his team had got a "wake-up call" after they were held to a 1-1 draw by the USA despite their opponents playing the majority of the second half with just nine men.
The Azzurri struggled from the off in their second World Cup match and failed to build momentum after Alberto Gilardino gave them a 21st-minute lead. However, Cristian Zaccardo's own goal and Daniele De Rossi's subsequent sending-off in the opening half proved a hammer blow for the Azzurri who never recovered despite facing an opposition who played for 44 minutes with nine men.
"We didn't play our best game," said Lippi. "It was simply not our night. But it's not a negative result. I am happy that today our World Cup starts because this is a wake-up call for us. From now on is simply a case of being in or out."
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