De Rossi 63        Alcaraz 39

Italy were unconvincing in the opening fixture in defence of their world title, grateful to Daniele De Rossi’s second-half goal, and a dreadful mistake from Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar, for a point.

The Italians looked comfortable but unthreatening in the opening half. But they were rocked when the South Americans took the lead through Antolin Alcaraz’s fine header from a free-kick, six minutes before the break.

The Azzurri were rocked again when goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon had to depart at half-time with a back injury

They were more purposeful in the second period but only equalised when Villar missed Simone Pepe’s right-wing corner by some distance and De Rossi bundled the ball home at the far post, with his marker, Lucas Barrios, watching the man but not the flight of the ball.

Neither side possessed the determination to push for victory, as they will be favourites to progress from the group.