Italy's performance was easily the biggest letdown of the entire World Cup.

The reigning world champions did not provide as much as a yelp as they fell and dived through Group F, drawing with Paraguay and New Zealand before going down to Slovakia in a game they needed to win to reach the Round of 16.

The Italian public slammed the Azzurri for bringing shame on the nation and being embarrassments and even midfielder Gennaro Gattuso labelled the team as 'cavalieri della vergogna' (Knights of Shame).

Coach Marcello Lippi got the chop after the poor performance and the Italians now have to go about redeeming themselves to win back the respect of their own people and the world football community as a whole.

Finished: 26th Record: Wins - 0; Draws - 2; Losses - 1; Points - 2 Matches: Paraguay (1-1), New Zealand (1-1), Slovakia (2-3) Goals: 4 Against: 5

tribalfootball.com's Star ManRiccardo Montolivo (The attacking midfielder was the best of a bad bunch but kept attempting from long range and trying to create chances)

Official statistics

Minutes playedDaniele De Rossi 270 Gianluca Zambrotta 270 Vincenzo Iaquinta 270 Fabio Cannavaro 270 Giorgio Chiellini 270

Top scorersDaniele De Rossi 1 Fabio Quagliarella 1 Antonio Di Natale 1 Vincenzo Iaquinta 1

Total shotsRiccardo Montolivo 10 Antonio Di Natale 7 Daniele De Rossi 6 Giorgio Chiellini 4

Pass Completion RateFabio Cannavaro 80% Domenico Cristico 78% Daniele De Rossi 77% Giorgio Chiellini 74%

Most FoulsGiorgio Chiellini 7 Vincenzo Iaquinta 6 Fabio Cannavaro 4 Simone Pepe 4

Yellow cardsFabio Quagliarella 1 Mauro Camoranesi 1 Simone Pepe 1 Fabio Cannavaro 1 Giorgio Chiellini 1

Red cards none

SavesFederico Marchetti 1