Italian players complain after their defeat (Allsport)

By James Dart, Sportinglife.com

This time next Friday the World Cup could be bereft of France, Argentina, Italy and Portugal.

That is the stark reality facing the tournament after another of the outright favourites stumbled to a sensational defeat on Saturday.

Senegal, England, the USA. All three have accounted for a pre-competition favourite, but surely the same couldn't happen to the well-organised and in-form Italians. Or could it?

All had looked well for the Azzurri 73 minutes into their game against Group G rivals Croatia in Ibaraki.

Coming into the game after a comfortable 2-0 stroll past Ecuador in their opening encounter, Giovanni Trapattoni's side again looked to be in control against the Croats once hotshot striker Christian Vieri had reinforced his bid for the Golden Boot with a trademark header.

The Australian-born hitman had been relatively quiet in comparison to his impressive early brace against the South Americans in Sapporo, but he burst into life on 55 minutes by rising at the far post to power the Italians into a 1-0 lead.

That was tough on Mirko Jozic's side, who had turned in a vastly-improved first-half performance compared to their lethargic opening defeat at the hands of Mexico.

Lecce striker Davor Vugrinec provided the kind of pace and movement that had been missing against the Mexicans, whilst the Kovac brothers - Nico and Robert - also performed at the high level they do for club side Bayern Munich.

But Vieri's strike really took the wind out of their sails and, as the game entered its 73rd-minute, Croatia looked to be heading for an early return to the Balkans.

Surely there was to be no comeback against the most-heralded defence in the finals, albeit minus Alessandro Nesta, replaced earlier in the first half due to injury.

Enter Ivica Olic, a substitute who arrived in the game just 16 minutes earlier.

Robert Jarni's cross evaded a strangely flat-footed defence and Olic was there to prod the ball past Gianluigi Buffon from close range.

Italy were shell-shocked as Croatia launched a stunning series of attacks in the minutes that followed.

And it was from one such raid just three minutes after Olic's strike that Milan Rapaic sent his bench into ecstatic celebrations with a slightly fortuitous strike from the edge of the penalty area which looped over the stranded Buffon and into the net.

The crowd inside the Kashima Stadium had to double-take at the scoreboard to believe what had just happened.

Surely the Azzurri would rally back to preserve their unbeaten record and reputation as hotly-fancied contenders.

But it wasn't to be their day, despite having two seemingly fair goals disallowed and a Francesco Totti free-kick hitting the inside of the post and rolling agonisingly along the goal-line.

And before you knew it, Italy were beaten, the fourth team to succumb to a major shock.

Defeat for Trapattoni's side was harsh, but their lack of urgency during the opening hour eventually cost them dear.

More importantly though, the result means that just like former world champions Argentina, France and even Germany, the fate of the Azzurri will come down to the final group game.

It would be foolish to write off these giants of world football, but the truth of the matter is that no side since Argentina in 1978 has lost a group game and still gone on to lift the Jules Rimet trophy.

What would be more of a worry for followers of Trap's side, though, is his lack of creativity in midfield and his penchant for throwing on the likes of Angelo Di Livio instead of the mercurial skills of Alessandro Del Piero.

The fitness of star defender Nesta is another major fear.

Should the Lazio man have picked up a serious injury, major doubts will increase over the central defensive partnership of Fabio Cannavaro and Marco Materazzi, a pairing that looked less than watertight against the Croats.

Mexico are up next for Italy, but whilst Trapattoni's side will be favourites to win and seal a last-16 place, they were expected to take all three points on Saturday.

***

There were to be no such problems for the enigmatic Brazilians in Seogwipo, as Big Phil's side became only the second team to win both of their opening matches alongside improving Spain.

Goals from Roberto Carlos - a rocket of a free-kick - and one each from the three Rs secured a comfortable 4-0 win over finals newcomers China, and in all truth, it could and should have been a lot more.

This fact is made all the more creditable by the performance of China, one that was vastly-improved on their opening defeat to Costa Rica.

Indeed, it was cruel on them that they failed to score a first ever World Cup finals goal when Zhao Junzhe struck a post.

But Brazil still didn't have to get out of second gear and this will worry their rivals more than anything.

Ronaldo continues to look sharper with every game he plays, Rivaldo finally appears to be nearing full fitness, and the rest of the team is starting to gel ominously.

Perhaps now that Scolari's side are clear favourites to win the World Cup, the curse of such favouritism will strike as it has done with France, Argentina and now Italy.

Alexander Guimaraes and Costa Rica - Brazil's next opponents on June 13 - certainly hope so.

***

Earlier in the day, Slovenia had become only the third side to have been eliminated from the finals after they slumped to a dour 1-0 defeat at the hands of South Africa.

It was a historic day for Bafana Bafana as this victory - thanks to Siyabonga Nomvete's fifth-minute goal - represented their first ever win at a World Cup finals.

The success also leaves Jomo Sono's side on the brink of a place in the second round, something that would be a phenomenal achievement for the country.

That they achieved their victory in probably the worst match of the tournament so far won't worry them one bit.

The same can't be said for the Slovenian Football Federation, who must now prepare their national side for Euro 2004 qualification in a state of disarray.

Their best player Zlatko Zahovic managed to make coach Srecko Katanec issue his resignation as of the end of the finals, before being sent home in shame.

Given their impressive performances at Euro 2000 and the way in which they reached these finals, I had expected better things from Katanec's charges in the Far East.

Still, given all the shocks we've had over the past nine days, they may soon be keeping some exclusive company.

Send your World Cup feedback to: