Italy beat England

Even the old guard have been infected with the entertaining spirit of this World Cup. There was trepidation that Saturday's third game would be a dampener on what had been one of the most entertaining World Cups in living memory. The perennially underachieving England were facing a stifling Italian midfield in the even more stifling heat of the Arena da Amazonia in Manaus. Andrea Pirlo was the playmaker fulcrum of a formation designed to dominate possession for the Azzurri and force England to tire themselves out running after the ball.

England coach Roy Hodgson's hope lay in the pace of his young team, particularly Daniel Sturridge and the 19-year-old Liverpudlian Raheem Sterling, who could potentially trouble an Italian side that has been exposed on the flanks in recent friendly games - not least an embarrassing 1-1 draw against Luxembourg.

England began the game more aggressively, with a long-range Sterling effort narrowly missing the left upright of Italy keeper Salvatore Sirigu, last-minute replacement for the injured talisman Gianluigi Buffon. While Mario Balotelli and Co. were mainly reduced to long-range efforts, the England attack were more effective sending in crosses and bothering the uncertain-looking Gabriel Paletta in particular. The pattern the pundits expected had kicked in: Italy had most of the possession, a tenacious England most of the chances.

But then in the 35th minute it was the Azzurri who broke through. From the Italians' first corner of the game, a regal Pirlo dummy left Claudio Marchisio with acres in front of the penalty area, and the midfielder had time to slam the ball through a crowd of players and the unsighted keeper Joe Hart was beaten low to his right.

But the advantage lasted barely three minutes, as England caught Italy on the break. The under-pressure Wayne Rooney (still without a World Cup goal) curved perfect ball to Sturridge, who escaped the flapping Paletta and clipped the ball in.

The game had become unexpectedly entertaining, topped off by a splendidly cheeky effort by Mario Balotelli just before halftime. Played in by Pirlo but then forced out wide, the striker lifted a sumptuous effort from an impossible angle that was dropping under the bar until Phil Jagielka before it was headed clear brilliantly.

Italy re-establish lead

Balotelli didn't wait long to make up for that though - the second half wasn't four minutes old when Antonio Candreva sent a perfect cross to the far-post, where the center-forward could scarcely miss with his head from two yards out.

England continued to push back at a frenetic pace, and Rooney came close with two efforts, the second of which - a snap-shot from inside the area was hooked just inches wide.

At the other end, Candreva continued to terrorize the left half of England's defense, and weren't sorry to see the back of him when he was substituted in the 77th minute. By then, however, the energy was visibly flagging in the heat. And the introduction of young guns Ross Barkley and Adam Lallana failed to provide the spark that England were straining for.

The result means that Costa Rica, who beat Uruguay 3-1 earlier in the day, top group D, with Italy a close second. England's upcoming game against Uruguay could well decide their fate.

Ivory Coast muscle out Japan 2-1

In Group C's second game, Japan's young guns fought out a frenetic game against Ivory Coast's so-called golden generation. The African side began the game in the ascendant, but couldn't break down Japan, who took the lead in the 16th minute through a magnificent strike from Keisuke Honda.

The AC Milan midfielder took advantage of some disarray in the Ivory Coast back line after Japan won a throw-in by the touchline. Honda was left in space in the penalty area, took a touch with his right foot before slamming an unstoppable strike into the top corner with his left.

Ivory Coast struggled for the next hour of play, looking sluggish in their search for an equalizer. Even Yaya Touré's trademark muscling runs failed to make an impact. It was only the introduction of their aging hero Didier Drogba that turned the game on its head.

The 36-year-old, joining in on the hour mark, immediately sent a ripple of energy through his side, even though he was not involved in either of their goals. They came within three minutes after crosses from the right found the heads of first Wilfried Bony (64th minute) and then Yao Gervinho (66th minute).

Drogba's massive influence continued for the remainder of the game - winning free-kicks and then taking them venomously himself - and Japan were drained. They now need a win against Greece to give themselves a fighting chance of reaching the knock-out stages. Ivory Coast's veterans, meanwhile, have got off to a brilliant start, and will take on Greece's conquerors Colombia.