Italy team return home in shame

Italy returned to Rome in disgrace on Saturday after being knocked out of the World Cup in the first round for the first time since 1974.

Mobbed by media and a handful of furious fans outside Rome's Fiumicino airport, the players looked tired and sad.

Juventus player Simone Pepe said he was a bit apprehensive about coming back. "But it was also right that the fans got to vent their frustration. This adventure went badly but we always gave the most we could."

Italy, a creaking shadow of the 2006 champions, were sterile in a draw with Paraguay, exposed as woefully short of ideas when held 1-1 by New Zealand and outclassed in their stunning 3-2 defeat by Slovakia.

A few Italian fans expressed their disappointment. "It's a scandal, it's shameful," said Francesco and Carlo, "this year's been really shameful, we really thought it would go better than this," they said.

Coach Marcello Lippi was hounded by angry fans who pounced on him in his car as he waited to leave the airport, but would not comment on his team's performance.