Defending champions Italy had to come from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw in their World Cup Group F opener against Paraguay in Cape Town.

Having played well in the first half at Green Point Stadium, the 2006 winners were shocked when Wigan-bound defender Antolin Alcaraz rose to head home a 39th-minute free-kick.

Italy's blushes were spared to some extent, however, as Daniele De Rossi slid in to punish a mistake by Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar after 63 minutes and take a point from the match.