Italy have qualified for the FIFA World Cup Germany Finals 2006 following an unconvincing 1-0 win against Slovenia, in Palermo. Christian Zaccardo came off the bench in the second half to score the only goal of the game after 78 minutes.

The Azzuri huffed and puffed against the resolute Slovenian outfit, who still maintain a slim chance of qualification.

Francesco Totti tried to drive the three-time world champions forward, but a mixture of clumsy finishing and wayward shooting meant that a stalemate was starting to look the most likely result until Zaccardo stepped up to head home a cross delivered from the left wing by his Palermo team-mate Fabio Grosso.

The Italians did have a goal controversially disallowed when Alberto Gilardino fired home from a knock-down, but the referee adjudged the ball to have crossed the line from the original cross.

The result leaves Italy with twenty points, five ahead of Norway, who will now contest second place with Slovenia, who lie a further three points adrift.

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