Dirty TackleClaudio Marchisio sent off for dumb challenge, reducing Italy to 10 men against Uruguay
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Italy was reduced to 10 men in the 60th minute of its final group-stage match against Uruguay when midfielder Claudio Marchisio put his studs into Egidio Arevalo's knee after losing possession of the ball. The match was still scoreless at that point, with Italy only needing a draw to advance while Uruguay needed a win. But Uruguay went on to score with the man advantage and win 1-0.
It was striker Mario Balotelli who had Italy fearing an eventual sending off when he was booked in the for flying into the back of Alvaro Pereira's head in the first half. He was substituted at halftime to avoid that possibility, but it turns out Marchisio had that troubling scenario covered.
After Uruguay striker Luis Suarez appeared to get away with biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini, Diego Godin scored the match's only goal in the 81st minute to send Uruguay to the knockout stage and eliminate Italy. This is the second consecutive World Cup in which Italy has gone out in the group stage after winning the tournament in 2006.
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