World Cup 2010: The best images from Italy v Paraguay and Japan v Cameroon

The defending World Champions begin their campaign tonight with a match against Paraguay, who beat Brazil and Argentina during qualification for the tournament ... This could be interesting Photograph: Lars Baron/Getty Images Photograph: Lars Baron/guardian.co.uk It's absolutely leathering it down at the Green Point Stadium ... Photograph: Julie Jacobson/AP Photograph: Julie Jacobson/guardian.co.uk ... making a treacherous landing for Giorgio Chiellini and Lucas Barrios as they plummet downwards after jumping for a high ball Photograph: Oliver Weiken/EPA Photograph: Oliver Weiken/guardian.co.uk Victor Caceres holds off Gianluca Zambrotta Photograph: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images Photograph: Jamie McDonald/guardian.co.uk Zambrotta is then foiled by Antolin Alcaraz Photograph: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images Photograph: Jamie McDonald/guardian.co.uk Well, well, well – Paraguay have taken the lead! Alcaraz outjumps the Italian captain Fabio Cannavaro and his header arcs into the corner of the goal Photograph: Nic Bothma/EPA Photograph: Nic Bothma/guardian.co.uk The Paraguayans are quick to begin a mass pile-on; the Italians look disgusted with themselves and rightly so. Their lackadaisical marking from set-pieces has been punished Photograph: Nic Bothma/EPA Photograph: Nic Bothma/guardian.co.uk Here's a man who won't be best pleased – Marcello Lippi, the Italian coach. After months of hearing people say Italy would walk the group (a group which also includes New Zealand and Slovakia) Lippi's side are a goal down Photograph: Lars Baron/Getty Images Photograph: Lars Baron/guardian.co.uk But it doesn't last. In the 63rd minute, Paraguay's goalkeeper Justo Villar flies from his goal in a hopeless attempt to punch the ball clear, but, as the picture shows, he's embarrassingly late ... Photograph: Julie Jacobson/AP Photograph: Julie Jacobson/guardian.co.uk The ball drops to Daniele De Rossi, who slides in at the back stick to equalise Photograph: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images Photograph: Doug Pensinger/guardian.co.uk De Rossi makes the most of the wet surface with a good old celebratory knee-slide. One from the José Mourinho school of exuberance Photograph: Franck Robichon/EPA Photograph: Franck Robichon/guardian.co.uk Italy's Simone Pepe attempts a scissor-kick ... but the scoreline remains level and the Azzurri are forced to accept a mere point. That'll teach 'em to bank on a solid defensive display Photograph: Franck Robichon/EPA Photograph: Franck Robichon/guardian.co.uk Earlier this afternoon, in the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, Japan were up against Cameroon in Group E Photograph: Alex Morton/Action Images Photograph: Alex Morton/guardian.co.uk Among the crowd were these curious looking chaps. Whatever they're dressed as, it's all proving too much for the guy on the left Photograph: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Yasuyoshi Chiba/guardian.co.uk Japan took the lead in the 38th minute when when Daisuke Matsui's deep cross found Keisuke Honda at the back post and he stroked the ball into the net Photograph: Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Pedro Ugarte/guardian.co.uk Japan's resilience was tested thereafter as Cameroon began to play with greater intent. Pictured above, Benoit Assou-Ekotto is held off by Japan's Atsuto Uchida Photograph: Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Pedro Ugarte/guardian.co.uk Cameroon were denied by a combination of the woodwork and goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima Photograph: Rodrigo Arangua/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Rodrigo Arangua/guardian.co.uk Cameroon's players, including star striker Samuel Eto'o on the right, amble back to the changing rooms after their surprise 1-0 defeat Photograph: Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Pedro Ugarte/guardian.co.uk