Italy 1-1 Paraguay
World champions Italy had to fight back from a goal down to earn a point against Paraguay as they began the defence of their crown with an unconvincing draw.
Marcello Lippi's side looked like they would be on the wrong end of the first major shock of the 2010 World Cup when they fell behind to Antolin Alcaraz's first-half header but an error from the South American side's goalkeeper Justo Villar gifted Daniele de Rossi an equaliser.
The ageing Azzurri, who featured five of their 2006 winning team in their starting line-up, looked short of ideas going forward and also have a concern over the fitness of legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who was forced off at half-time with an apparent back injury.
Italy did avoid their first defeat in their opening game of a World Cup since losing to the Republic of Ireland in New York in 1994 but this was not a performance to reassure their army of travelling fans that they are in any sort of shape to defend their title.
In the absence of the injured Andrea Pirlo, who is expected to return later in the group stage, it fell on Simone Pepe to try to open up the Paraguayan defence, but it was only in the closing stages of the game that he and his side managed any sustained spells of pressure.
Lippi's men dominated possession but their opponents' disciplined and regimented approach, in some ways reminiscent of many cautious Azzurri sides in the past, held firm.
Italy's best opening of the first half hour actually came on the break when Riccardo Montolivo dispossessed Salvatore Bocchetti on the half-way line but, after running to the edge of the area, his low shot barely tested Villar.
At the other end, Paraguay were growing in confidence and they had already wasted a couple of decent shooting chances when they stunned the world champions by taking the lead after 39 minutes.
Aureliano Torres curled in a wicked free-kick and Alcaraz leapt to beat Fabio Cannavaro and De Rossi and power home his header into the corner of the net.
Things got even worse for Italy at half-time when goalkeeper Buffon, another survivor of 2006 and still the anchor of their side, had to be replaced by Federico Marchetti.
Paraguay continued to look comfortable after the break and Enrique Vera came close to adding a second when he drove a fierce shot over the bar when the ball broke to him in the area.
But Italy were gifted an equaliser by the sort of goalkeeping howler that we have become used to in the opening days of this World Cup.
Villar flapped horribly at Pepe's corner and missed his attempted punch, allowing the onrushing De Rossi to force the ball the home from close range.
Italy looked a lot sharper after equalising and ended the stronger side but they were still finding things frustrating in the final third and had to settle for shots from distance.
Pepe fired wide after cutting in from the right and Montolivo had a low effort turned round the post before the end but the Paraguayans held on for the draw that their performance merited.
Italy 1-2 Mexico
Carlos Vela opened the scoring early in the first half, and Mexico missed a number of chances to double their lead before substitute Alberto Medina finally made it 2-0 in the final 10 minutes. Defender Leonardo Bonucci scored a consolation for the hugely disappointing Italians, who were outplayed throughout, in the final minute.
With Italy having no official match action coming into this fixture, much of the focus was on coach Marcello Lippi’s squad selection. Having already cut Antonio Candreva and Fabio Grosso from his original 30, on June 1 he also released Salvatore Sirigu, Mattia Cassani, Andrea Cossu, Marco Borriello and Giuseppe Rossi from his final 23.
The World Cup holders fielded a strong team, although Giorgio Chiellini and Mauro Camoranesi missed the game through injury. Vincenzo Iaquinta, Antonio Di Natale and Alberto Gilardino featured up-front.
Mexico had promised to play a weakened starting XI, although dangerous attacking trio Javier Hernandez, Carlos Vela and Giovani Dos Santos all started.
Italy started strongly and were so close to taking the lead after just two minutes as Iaquinta headed against the crossbar following Andrea Pirlo's corner. Soon after, a fine Pirlo pass culminated in Di Natale lashing over.
Mexico's first chance arrived on eight minutes as some poor marking at a corner presented Gerardo Torrado with a clean shot from 20 yards which he fizzed a couple of yards wide.
This was a warning of what was to come as Mexico broke the deadlock on 16 minutes through Vela. The Arsenal striker latched on to a delightful Giovani chipped through ball and fired past Buffon.
Fernandez was about to double the advantage on 24 minutes after turning Fabio Cannavaro, but a Domenico Criscito tackle came to the rescue. Carlos Salcido then fired just wide as Mexico started to dominate.
Italy's best hope of scoring seemed to be from set-pieces and just shy of the hour mark Leonardo Bonucci headed over unmarked from a corner.
But it was Mexico who were playing all the football. Salcido launched a missile from 30 yards that missed the top corner by inches.
Each side made one change at half time as Simone Pepe replaced Di Natale for Italy, and Pablo Barrera came on for Rafa Marquez for Mexico.
Barrera squandered a glorious opportunity moments after his introduction as he was put clean through on goal from De Rossi's bad backpass, but the substitute chipped wide.
The North Americans missed another golden chance as Vela put the ball across the six yard box for an open goal, but Hernandez got it all wrong.
Mexico were laying siege to the Italian goal, and should have had a penalty on the hour mark after what appeared to be a clear foul from behind by Gianluca Zambrotta on Vela.
Italy desperately tried to change things, and Giampaolo Pazzini and Christian Maggio entered for Gilardino and Zambrotta. But it was Mexico who continued to carve openings and Vela almost got onto the end of a chipped pass.
A deserved second Mexico goal finally arrived as two substitutes combined. Legendary veteran Cuauhtemoc Blanco delivered a magnificent chipped pass to play in Alberto Medina who finished emphatically by driving the ball into the corner.
With two minutes remaining Italy managed to get a consolation as substitute Salvatore Bocchetti hit the post with his first touch from a corner, and fellow defender Bonucci lashed home the rebound for his maiden nazionale goal.
Italy pushed for an equaliser, but it was Mexico who should have reopened their two goal advantage as Buffon came to the rescue with a superb point-blank save from substitute Andres Guardado.
The Azzurri's final official friendly before their first World Cup group game against Paraguay will be on Saturday evening when they face Switzerland. Mexico, meanwhile, will be delighted with this impressive victory.
