Johannesburg - The defending champions crashed out of the World Cup on Thursday as debutantes Slovenia won the do-or-die game 3-2 to book their place in the second round of the tourney.
Japan joined Group E leaders, the Netherlands in last 16 after thumping Denmark 3-1 in a fast-paced game which saw Japanese midfielder Yasuhito Endo bend it like David Beckham.
The dramatic loss of the Azzurri took life away from soccer-crazy Italy as people in Rome and Milan poured out of pubs and walked home in shock.
"It's worse than with Korea," lamented the Italian newspaper Republic, recalling the shock exit at the hands of DPR Korea in 1966.
Robert Vittek's double put Slovakia in control in Ellis Park Stadium before Antonio Di Natale closed the gap and Fabio Quagliarella looked like he had grabbed an equalizer, but an offside decision went against him.
Kamil Kopunek left the bench to send Slovakia 3-1 ahead before Quagliarella's heavy strike gave Italy the slimmest hope, but a third goal never happened and the four-time winners joined 1998 champions France in the list of big-name losers.
Italy required three points to guarantee a place in the knockout phase. A draw would likely prove enough for the Italians if Paraguay beat New Zealand in the other Group F game in Bolokwane, which turned out to be a goalless tie.
The Italian's misery started as Daniele De Rossi's pass was snatched by Erik Jendrisek just outside the Italian box.
He promptly found Vittek and the Slovakian fired into the bottom corner in the 25th minute.
Meanwhile, Italy Coach Marcello Lippi took responsibility for Italy's early exit of the World Cup.
"I take all responsibility for what happened, no excuses," Lippi made a statement in a post-match press conference.
"If the team showed us just the game like tonight, that means the coach is simply unable to train the team well psychologically and technically. It's evident.
"I didn't expect to end my experience with the Federation in such a fashion and I did expect a performance differently," said the 62-year old Lippi, who steered the Italian team to become the champions of the 2006 World Cup.
