For a moment, it looked as though Daniele De Rossi was about to endure another nightmare start to a World Cup.
The last time the Italy midfielder started in a World Cup game, he lasted barely 28 minutes. USA fans will remember him throwing an elbow at Brian McBride in a 1-1 tie against the Americans back in 2006. That moment of insanity led to De Rossi's ejection and a four match ban, and he wouldn’t see the field again until the final.
This time, in Italy's 2010 World Cup opener on Monday against Paraguay, De Rossi suffered not so much a moment of insanity, but a lapse of concentration.
On Paraguay’s opening goal in the 1-1 draw, he was easily beaten to the ball by defender Antolin Alacaraz, who out-jumped De Rossi to put the South Americans into a halftime lead.
"My mistake led to the goal, so everyone was angry," De Rossi told reporters. "We were going too deep defending the free kicks, but he was my man and I was meant to be marking him. I definitely take the blame for that goal."
The goal came as something of a surprise to the Italians, who despite owning possession in the first half, struggled to get rolling offensively and barely registered a shot on goal.
Paraguay, however, seemed even more cagey going forward than the Italians and were content to absorb the Azzurri’s pressure—almost the reverse of what many expected from the Group F opener, especially given the South American's loaded front line.
"It's a shame we conceded that goal, especially from a set play," defender Giorgio Chiellini said. "With all respect for Paraguay, I couldn't see how they were going to cause us trouble otherwise."
De Rossi, however, would get a chance to atone for the mistake, scoring the all-important tying goal in the second half after Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar failed to get a fist on Simone Pepe's looping cross. De Rossi found himself in the right place at the right time as the ball landed, and he was able to stab home the equalizer.
"It was important to get back on track at the start of the second half, and we felt the path was there for the victory," De Rossi said.
Italy next face New Zealand on June 20, though it's possible they will be without starting goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who left Monday's game with back problems, according to head coach Marcello Lippi.
"I cannot evaluate the extent of his injury," Lippi said. "The doctor will see to that."
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