But Italy followed France on the road to recrimination and shame, sure to be on the receiving end of scathing criticism, many players certain to have represented their country for the last time.
While I was not inclined to feel any sympathy for the French, either for their pig-headed coach's nonsensical man-management and non-existent tactical acumen or their players' brattish behaviour, at least they could claim to have been in a difficult group. Italy, however, could not have been in a better group if they'd drawn it themselves. C'mon, think about it. Paraguay: The weakest of all the South American teams. Slovakia: The lesser half of the old Czechoslovakia. New Zealand: They'd rather tuck the ball under their arm and run with it!!! Ferfuxxake, they even included Chris Killen in their team!!!
It is said Slovakia believed their hopes of qualifying from Group F hinged on playing the Italians last. They expected Lippi's team to have already racked up six points, scored goals galore and made sure of their place in the knock-out stages, thus hoping they'd take their foot off the gas in the final game and allow the Slovaks to scrape through. Take their foot off the gas? At no time did Italy show any sense of urgency before the final 15 minutes of that last game against Slovakia when it suddenly dawned on them that the plane for their homeward journey was already revving up on the runway.
With Di Natale having a pop from long distance after only ten seconds, it was an encouraging start but it didn't take long for the sloppy approach which had been a feature of their games against Paraguay and New Zealand to return. A slack pass from Daniele De Rossi was snapped up by Erik Jendrisek, he slipped it to Robert Vittek who promptly rattled the ball low into the corner of the net. A wake-up call for the Italians? Don't be daft! While Rino Gattuso was bursting a gut trying to get something out of those around him, his team-mates seemed to think they were fireproof and just plodded on as before.
They picked up the pace, if only slightly, in the second half - 'The Italians always manage to just enough to get through' the TV experts assured us - but, having inexplicably subbed Rino at half-time, Lippi lacked the onfield presence to kick erses, they were always likely to be caught out on the break and it duly happened in the 73rd minute when Vittek reacted quicker than anyone to meet Marek Hamsik's cross at the near post to push the Italians to the brink of the precipice.
Only then did they show anything resembling the qualities of defending champions. Di Natale got a goal back after 81 minues, Fabio Quagliarella thought he had played the get-out-of-jail card four minutes later, only to have his strike controversially disallowed for offside, but the Slovaks were now playing the Italians at their own game, breaking up the play by requiring treatment after even the slightest physical contact. And with the Azzuri getting more and more frustrated, they werre dealt a savage blow in the 88th minute. With the defenders masquerading as statues - or should it be statues masquerading as defenders? - substitute Kamil Kopunek ran on to a throw-in and calmly knocked the ball over the keeper and into the net.
With so many needless stoppages, English referee Howard Webb played plenty of injury time, Quagliarella made it 3-2 with a delightful chip then, in the 96th minute, Simone Pepe had a glorious chance to grab the draw which would have kept Italy in the World Cup but, when a left foot volley would surely have resulted in a goal, he opted to hit it with his right, the ball bobbled harmlessly wide and the holders were out. Let the witch-hunt begin.
While there were thrills and spills galore at Ellis Park, Paraguay and New Zealand were sending everyone to sleep with a 0-0 draw in Polokwane. Remarkably, New Zealand had come out of this World Cup undefeated, but they were out nonetheless, with Paraguay going through as group winners and Slovakia as runners-up.
Later in the day Group E drew to a close with Holland beating Paul Le Guen's Cameroon 2-1 while Japan pulled off something of a shock with a 3-1 victory over Denmark. The Vic was the venue for me, we chose the BBC3 option of the Holland game - with a portrait of King Billy on the wall, could we do anything else? - but Portadown Davie returned from the bookies to tell us we were missing 'a great wee game' on BBC1. "We're watching no Knackeredmota on my telly," growled mein host, Andy.
While Robin Van Persie was firing the Oranjemen ahead, the Japs were doing the business against the Danes with cracking free-kicks from Keisuke Honda and Yasuhito Endo. A penalty from Samuel Eto'o drew Cameroon level but Klaas-Jan Huntelaar soon restored Holland's lead after a superb Arjen Robben shot rebounded from the post. Denmark threatened to mount a late fightback in Rustenburg when Jon Dahl Tomasson scored with the follow-up after his 81st minute penalty had been saved but it was Japan who finished the stronger side and Shinji Okazaki wrapped things up right at the death.
As is now the accepted way things are done on TV, attention immediately switched to England's game with West Germany, with the earth-shattering news that, yes!, England will be playing in red. So what will be mentioned first on Sunday afternoon: 1966 or the vuvuzelas? There are no prizes for guessing what my money would be on!!!
Meanwhile, Portadown Davie appeared to have over-indulged and proceeded to tell all that England can't lose on Sunday. He'll deny it when he is proved wrong so I'm recording his forecast for posterity here. How much is the bet, Davie?
Tomorrow: Brazil v Portugal, Ivory Coast v North Korea, Spain v Chile, Honduras v Switzerland.