World Cup 2010 betting - Italy vs Paraguay In-Running Commentary

Italy were the better side this evening but they will need to find more in attack if they are to win the World Cup this year. Thanks for following us and come back tomorrow as we give you all the in-running betting as the Ivory Coast face Portugal, here on on Live Odds and Scores.

93.00: FULL TIME: Italy 1-1 Paraguay

89.20: Italy have been far better in the second half and while the game does seem to be winding down, their opponents will be concerned at their complete lack of attacking presence. Three minutes of added time and the draw is 1/4 with Totesport.

86.10: Late pressure from Italy as Paraguay seem content to hold on to the draw which is as short as 1/3 on Betfair. 2-1 to the holders is 4/1.

81.37: Over 2.5 goals is 15/8 on Betfair and Gilardino is 15/2 favourite to make it happen with Betfred. Shot from distance by Montolivo but Villar scrabbles it away.

78.31: 3/1 now with Betfred for the holders to win it and they are enjoying the lion`s share of the ball. However, they still seem to be struggling to create as Pepe shoots along the ground from distance. His attempt is comfortably saved.

74.24: Betfred now offer 5/2 on the Azzurri, while Paraguay are 8/1 with Bet365. The draw is 13/20 with Canbet and the game has fallen into a bit of a lull since the equaliser.

70.23: Italy now 3.45 on Betfair and the game, which is far more lively now, is 6/5 to finish over 2.5 goals.

68:00: Santa Cruz coming on for Paraguay but he`ll need better service from midfield to make any real impression.

Italy 1-1 Paraguay

62.50: GOAL: Italy level as De Rossi slams in a corner for the holders. Italy still 11/5 on Betfair but the draw, at 5/6 on Betfair, is the rightful score for what has been a dull game.

58.34: Argentina-born Mauro Camoranesi comes on for Italy and instantly delivers a wicked cross that is collected by Villar in the Paraguay goal. Italy are now as long as 10/1 on Betfair.

56.39: Gilardino is still favourite at 13/2 with Bet365 to score the next goal, but the game is 6/4 to finish the way it is on Betfair. Better from Paraguay now as Italy are forced to commit men forward.

54.33: Paraguay have a chance and this is finally picking up. It`s still 1/3 on Betfair to finish under 2.5 goals, however.

52.10: Italy looking to prove me wrong as a Zambrotta cross is narrowly missed by Pepe trying a spectacular bicycle kick. No contact, and Italy drift further to 7/1, with Paraguay generally available at 8/11 now.

49.50: Marcello Lippi defended his team selection by saying he left behind no world class players. By looks of things, he didn`t bring any either as his side go as long as 13/2 on Betfair. Slow and, to be honest, feeble from the Italians.

46.33: Open start to the second half as Paraguay make a rare foray into Italy`s half before their opponents come at them on the flanks. Yet another poor cross though and easily cleared by the South Americans.

20.30 pm: Shock substitution to tell you about as Buffon is replaced in goal. Not really at fault for the goal and little else to do, so it seems like an injury to the Italy stopper.

20.17: Half-time sees Italy trail by a goal and showing no signs of scoring. Hopefully they will come out of their shell in the second half but Totesport now offer 11/2 that they can win tonight. Paraguay are 4/5 on Betfair, with the draw at 12/5. 4/9 that the game finishes under 2.5 goals and it has been poor by any standards from Lippi`s side.

Half-time: Italy 0-1 Paraguay

45.28: We are into the one added minute and it looks bad for Italy who do not seem able to step up the tempo after conceding.

42.26: An undeserved lead for Paraguay sees 1-1 and 1-0 the favourite scores for the game, both at 5/2 with Paddy Power. No response from Italy so far.

Italy 0-1 Paraguay

38.33: GOAL: As they say, it`s a funny old game. 1-0 to Paraguay as Alcaraz scores his first international goal from a free kick. Completely unmarked, he heads it right into Buffon`s bottom left corner. Where did that come from? Aren`t Italy famous for their organisation? Terrible defending and the holders are 9/2 to make a winning comeback on Betfair.

36.23: Paraguay still yet to do anything at all really, but happy to repel their opponents with relative ease so far. 0-0 now as short as 3.45 on Betfair.

32.41: Italy were 18/1 with Ladbrokes to retain the World Cup before kick-off and it is easy to see why the bookies put them behind teams like Argentina, Brazil and Spain. Nobody looks like stepping up and making something happen. Bet365 still make Gilardino favourite to score next at 6/1.

30.14: Cross for Pepe but he is offside as Italy, who are now 13/10 generally to win tonight, continue to look for space out wide. Not the best game we`ll see this summer, I would hope.

27.17: Italy still the better side but that`s not saying much. A bit of action on the wings from the holders but no real goal threat and 0-0 is now the joint-favourite score, along with 1-0 to the Azzurri, at 7/2 with Paddy Power.

Get all the odds on the game in-running at Bookies.com

22.32: Paraguay go close but still lengthen with Ladbrokes to 4/1.

20.34: Short corner from Paraguay and a good cross but Italy get it away, defend the resulting corner and break with Montolivo. His shot is tame, however, and Over 2.5 drifts further to 7/2 on the exchanges.

18.05: Dangerous cross from veteran right-back Zambrotta looking to find Gilardino. No luck though, and the match is 3/1 to finish over 2.5 goals.

16.39: Not much going on here with the ball stuck in midfield. Both sides maybe looking to avoid getting beaten as 0-0 shortens to 4/1 on Betfair.

13.38: Alberto Gilardino is favourite to open the scoring tonight at 11/2, while Iaquinta is next at 13/2 with Paddy Power. De Rossi, by the way, is fine.

11.31: Still all Italy and Paraguay are now 7/2 with Ladbrokes and 4/1 with Betdaq.

09.43: Only four times have the holders lost their opening games and Italy don`t look like they will be the fifth. Paraguay can`t seem to get hold of the ball, but worryingly for the Azzurri, De Rossi goes down off the ball.

06.57: Italy starting the game brightly, seeing a lot of the ball, with their forwards pressing well when not in possession. The Champions are now 13/10 with Stan James.

05.23: 1-0 to Italy is the favourite score with Betfair at 9/2, slightly ahead of 0-0, which is 5/1 on the exchange.

03.25: Italy have a reputation for a defensive attitude and tonight`s game is 2/5 on Betfair to finish under 2.5 goals, with Over available at 12/5.

02.03: Italy start the game as 6/5 favourites with Bet365, with Paraguay at 3/1 and the draw at 2/1.

Team news: Italy: Buffon, Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Chiellini, Criscito, De Rossi, Marchisio, Montolivo, Pepe, Gilardino, Iaquinta.
Subs: Marchetti, Maggio, Gattuso, Di Natale, Bocchetti, Camoranesi, Palombo, Quagliarella, Pazzini, Pirlo, Bonucci, De Sanctis.
Paraguay: Villar, Bonet, Alcaraz, Da Silva, Morel Rodriguez, Vera, Victor Caceres, Riveros, Torres, Haedo Valdez, Barrios.
Subs: Diego Barreto, Veron, Caniza, Julio Caceres, Cardozo, Edgar Barreto, Santa Cruz, Benitez, Santana, Ortigoza, Gamarra, Bobadilla.
Referee: Benito Archundia Tellez (Mexico)

19.28: Welcome to Live Odds and Scores` in-running commentary as Italy begin the defence of their World Cup crown against Paraguay .