Cyprus 1-2 Italy

Antonio Di Natale scored twice as Italy started the defence of their World Cup crown on Saturday with a lucky 2-1 win over Cyprus in their Group Eight qualifier.

The striker fired home a stoppage-time winner after putting the Azzurri ahead in the eighth minute, driving a low right-footed shot into the corner when allowed space outside the area by the Cypriot defence.

Efstathios Aloneftis had deservedly levelled for the hosts in the 29th, pouncing when defender Marco Cassetti dithered instead of clearing the rebound of a Gianluigi Buffon save from a Konstantinos Charalampidis shot.

Despite the result, Cyprus outplayed the Azzurri for long periods of the game, giving 2006 World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi a lot to think about after his first competitive match since being recalled to replace Roberto Donadoni.