by Nicholas Nikolov

Created on: June 23, 2009   Last Updated: November 07, 2009

At the start of tournament, most notably, everyone circled this Group B fixture between Brazil and Italy. This was expected to be a very close game because of the defence-minded Italian's, who may be able to shutdown the high-flying attacking Brazilians. Unfortunately, for manager Marcello Lippi's team suffered a crushing defeat to head coach Dunga's side, which outclassed the Azzuri with their fluid sharp-passing and fatal finishing.

This was an obvious star-studded affair at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in the capital of South Africa, Tshwane-Pretoria, routed the Italian's to a 3-0 victory. As the somewhat of a mini-World Cup tournament say's Arriverderci (or Goodbye) to the World Cup champions.

Inside three minutes, Maicon and Fabiano link-up extremely well down the right, with Inter Milan defender's one-time looping strike floats inches wide of the top-left corner. Veteran defender Gianluca Zambrotta, 32, hustled back although was relieved that the linesman flagged the Brazilian offside.

Precisely three minutes after, Fabiano again involved in this attack as the Sevilla FC midfielder bursts unchallenged straight down the heart of Italian's defence. Providing the onrushing Ramires, chipping shot rattles off the crossbar.

Robinho, 25, layoff pass for Kaka, as the megastar fires a powerful strike that was well-blocked by the experienced defender Fabio Cannavaro, who put his body on the line.The Manchester City striker on the prowl again, with a dashing run down the centre of the Azzuri defence, releasing well-struck driven shot that was routinely snatched by Buffon.

Maicon delivers a fine cross into the penalty area, from the right detecting Fabian, who rose higher than everyone and flashing his header wide in the 30th minute.

Defender Lucio, 31, with two glorious opportunities to score, with the longtime representative and true class of Brazilian football was playing the role of striker. The Bayern Munich man's first crack at goal, smoothly skipping past two Italian's and firing his strike deflecting off midfielder Daniele De Rossi and resulted in a corner. The centre-back send effort generously fell nicely for him, releasing a driving strike from close-range that was expertly stopped by the Italian keeper.

Seven minutes later, Fabiano's low piercing shot rolls right into the bottom far-left corner, after gather the ball from Maicon's effort on goal.

Fabiano doubles the score, exactly five minutes following his first goal. The impressive striker waited patiently

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