Italy coach Marcello Lippi hailed the defending champions' "heart" as they came from a goal down to salvage a 1-1 draw from their first World Cup Group F game against Paraguay.

The 2006 winners were shocked when Wigan-bound defender Antolin Alcaraz rose to head home a 39th-minute free-kick, but Italy's blushes were spared after Daniele De Rossi slid in to punish a mistake by Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar in the 63rd minute.

"We created little danger compared to the volume of play. Italy is there, we are there mentally, we are there with our heart, we are there fully," said Lippi.