Backup Moves Italy Ahead

Marco Materazzi knew he had a tough task ahead when called on to replace injured Alessandro Nesta early in a game that could have decided whether Italy would stay alive at the World Cup.

But Materazzi came through to send Italy to the second round.

Materazzi headed in a corner kick in the 26th minute to help Italy win Group E with a 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic on Thursday and avoid a second-round matchup with Brazil.

“It’s everyone’s dream to replace the greatest defender in the world and then score in the World Cup,” Materazzi said.

Materazzi’s goal helped knock out the Czech Republic and provided a pleasant distraction from a soccer corruption scandal back home. The game ended just a half-hour before four Italian clubs were ordered to stand trial in the scandal, which involves allegations of match-fixing, illegal betting and manipulation of referee assignments.

Juventus, AC Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina -- which account for 13 players on Italy’s roster -- face possible demotion from Serie A.

“We’re completely focused on the World Cup,” Coach Marcello Lippi said. “The pressure we faced was the possibility of losing and going home. After the World Cup, we can think about those things.”

Substitute Filippo Inzaghi scored on a breakaway in the 87th to clinch the victory for Italy, which won the group with seven points. Italy will face Australia on Monday in Kaiserslautern.

Lippi was especially pleased with how Materazzi and Inzaghi kept their focus while sitting on the bench for Italy’s first two games.

“In competitions like these you need to have patience,” Lippi said. “You can’t be nervous when your time comes or you won’t find yourself ready.”

It was the first goal in 29 international games for Materazzi.

The Czechs, ranked second in the world, were eliminated, finishing with only the three points they earned in their opening 3-0 win over the United States. Ghana, which beat the Czechs, 2-0, on Saturday, finished second with six points.