FULL-TIME: Italy had the better quality in the final third, although Ghana can be proud of a hard-working and committed performance.

Italy are about to take their unbeaten run to 19 games; they haven't lost since October 2004.

Ghana win a late corner. Muntari swings it out to the edge of the penalty area, but Essien mis-kicks horribly and Italy break.

GHANA SUB: Tachie-Mensah comes on to replace Gyan; Gyan has worked very hard up front, but has been unable to get Ghana back in to the match.

Iaquinta is booked for throwing the ball away after a free-kick decision had gone against him.

Essien and Appiah have been immense for Ghana; they don't deserve to be on the losing side this evening.

Iaquinta again chases a long ball forward, but this time Kuffour is able to nod the ball back to his keeper without alarm.

Challenges are flying in now; Ghana appear to be getting a bit frustrated and are taking it out in their tackling.

Kuffour is livid with himsel for gifting Iaquinta that chance; it was a dreadful attempt at a back-pass and it appears to have sealed Ghana's defeat.

GOAL! Kuffour's back-pass falls well short, Iaquinta steals in, rounds Kingson and rolls the ball in to an empty net.

ITALY SUB: Del Piero comes on to replace Toni; the veteran of 75 caps comes on to the final few minutes. Del Piero is the only man in the Italian squad to have scored in a World Cup.

OFF-TARGET! Essien fires a low shot wide of the post from 25 yards.

So, we enter the final ten minutes with Italy on top and looking comfortable, though Ghana seem dangerous enough to keep them on their toes.

PENALTY! NO! Gyan holds off a couple of challenges before diving through two tackles and hitting the deck; the referee turns down his claims and waves 'play-on'.

BLOCK! Appiah launches a direct counter-attack; he picks up a one-two before unleashing a shot, but De Rossi has got back and makes the block.

Iaquinta is back on his feet and back on the pitch.

Iaquinta has to be stretched off after not recovering from Kuffour's challenge from a moment ago.

Kuffour is extremely lucky when he brings down Iaquinta on the edge of the area, although the referee had already blown for off-side. It would have been a certain red card had the linesman not have flagged.

Ghana have had more of the ball than Italy in the second half, but they have come up against a very experienced and organised defence and have been unable to mount any sustained pressure.

Ghana cry for a penalty as Gyan is muscled off the ball by De Rossi as the two fought for a bouncing ball in the penalty area.

It is very humid in Hannover, and a few of the players are starting to look a little weary.

Pimpong forces a corner when his cross is deflected behind. Muntari sends the set-piece in towards Kuffour, but Nesta heads clear.

Iaquinta is caught-offside as he tried to run on to Pirlo's pass; it was a real shame, as Italy had a three-on-two situation developing.

GHANA SUB: Pimpong replaces Amoah; the FC Copenhagen striker comes on to replace Amoah, who has been mostly ineffecive since the break.

GREAT SAVE! De Rossi feeds Perrotta with a good pass in to the penalty area; the midfielder is faced only with Kingston, but the keeper makes an instinctive save at his near post.

EASY SAVE! Shilla misses a tackle at left back, allowing Camoranesi to send over a threatening cross; Perrotta climbs highest, but plants his header straight at Kingston.

Gyan is harshly booked for what looked like a good challenge on Pirlo. Replays show he did lunge a little at the Italian midfielder.

ITALY SUBl Gilardino off, Iaquinta on; Lippi chooses to freshen up his strike force for the final half-hour or so.

Essien is starting to push further forward now, and is starting to get more involved in the action in the final third. That is a good sign for the Black Stars.

...and the three-man wall does its job as Essien blasts a shot straight in to it.

Camoranesi is booked for a tackle from behind on Appiah. He can have no complaints, and Ghana win a free-kick, 35 yards out. Essien waits as Italy form their defensive wall...

...Saudi Arabia.

Every one of the 23-man Italian squad is home-based; the only other country that can boast that is...

Italy look very comfortable now; they are finding a lot of space to attack, and Ghana seem to have lost a bit of confidence going forward.

Camoranesi finds more space out on the right, but his low cross in to the middle is cleared by Mensah.

EASY SAVE! Gyan fires in a low shot from a tight angle, but it doesn't really trouble Buffon at his near post.

Camoranesi has gone out wide on the right, meaning Italy have shifted to more of a 4-4-2 formation.

ITALY SUB: Camoranesi replaces Totti; Italy are taking no chances with Totti's recent injury trouble, and they bring on the Juventus wide-man.

Totti is down, writhing around on the turf after a challenge with Pentsil. He receives some treatment.

EXCELLENT SAVE! Essien drives a powerful shot goalwards, but Buffon makes a solid save and pushes the ball out to safety.

Gilardino flicks a pass over the top for Totti to chase, but Kingston is alert enough to come out of his area and clear.

Essien breaks towards goal, but shuns what appears to be a good opportunity to fire a shot in.

Ghana look a little bit ragged at the back; there appears to be big spaces in behind their full-backs, and Toni and Gilardino are making good runs in to it.

SAVE! Totti feeds Gilardino in to a massive space down the right channel; the striker breaks in to the area and drills a low shot goalwards, but Kingston makes a good save with his legs.

Ghana give the ball away badly in midfield, but Pirlo fails to find the run of either Toni or Gilardino.

Ghana have made a good start to this second-half; they have had most of the ball and managed to get plenty players forward, but again they seem to lack quality around Italy's penalty area.

Italy's preparations for this tournament have been disrupted by match-fixing allegations in Serie A, but they seem well focussed this evening.

Ghana need to see if they can continue their good work from the first half, but somehow add a cutting edge to their play in the final third of the pitch.

Italy kick off the second half.

GHANA SUB: Pappoe off, Shilla on; Pappoe seemed to do okay in the first half; perhaps he picked up a knock.

HALF-TIME: Ghana gave as good as they got for much of the half, but go in a goal-down after Pirlo's sweet shot flew through a crowd and in to the corner.

GOOD SAVE! Grosso benefits from a beautiful pass inside the area by Pirlo, but the goalkeeper makes a sharp save as the full-back fires in a low shot from a tight angle.

Gilardino and Toni combine well again up front for Italy; they have worked really hard for their side in the first half, running the channels and making themselves available for passes.

Essien and Grosso clash in midfield; replays show that the Italian full-back took a forearm to the face in the challenge. He's soon back on his feet, though. What a tough-guy.

Ghana will be bitterly disappointed with that goal; they were doing so well, but Pirlo's goal will be a real body-blow to their confidence.

It was a fantastic goal from Pirlo; a really well-struck shot, low through a crowd of players. Kingston had no chance to make the save; he wouldn't have seen the ball until very late.

GOAL! Pirlo curls a wonderful strike in to the top corner after he collects a short corner. Fabulous goal from hte AC Milan midfielder.

Toni teases Mensah down the left, but the defender does well to eventually gather himself and put the ball out for a corner.

Ghana force a corner on the right-flank. It is taken short, and when the ball is finally delivered in to the middle, Essien can only direct his header tamely to Buffon.

Ghana try and launch a quick counter-attack, but Nesta makes a crucial interception to prevent Gyan getting in on goal.

Perrotta's cross from the right is deflected, and Kuffour is forced to put the ball out for a corner. This time Kingston does well when he comes and punches clear.

Toni picks up a superb flicked-pass from Totti, but his cross-shot is claimed at the near post by Kingston.

Totti strikes another free-kick from distance, but this time his shot is deflected and Kingston easily gathers.

JUST OVER! Kingston again shows his weakness on crosses as he comes through a crowd of players on a corner, misses the ball and Cannavaro heads over the bar.

WHAT AN EFFORT! Totti strikes an ambitious shot from 40 yards after being teed-up from a free-kick; he strikes it wonderfully, and Kingston is forced in to a good save.

SHOULD HAVE SCORED! A cross from the right is only half-cleared; the ball falls to Pappoe, but he blasts his shot over the crossbar when faced with just Buffon to beat.

SHOULD HAVE DONE BETTER! Essien breaks with a powerful run through the middle; he is shown on to his left foot, but the Chelsea midfielder strikes his shot high and wide.

Ghana have really taken to World Cup football; remember, this is their first ever appearance at the finals, but they certainly look like they're here to make a statement.

OOH! Gyan fires a low shot narrowly wide of the far post after he had been fed in a swift counter-attack. Explosive football from the Black Stars.

Toni scored 31 goals in the Italian league this season, the first time that has been achieved for over 50 years. He is a real dangerman.

OFF THE BAR! Toni thunders a shot off the underside of the crossbar after brilliantly controlling a high pass on the edge of the penalty area. Superb play by the Italy striker.

Pantsil beats his marker down the right wing, and Cannvaro is forced in to another important defensive header.

Toni forces another corner when he sprints on to Totti's through-ball and Mensah stretches to flick the ball behind.

As I said earlier, Ghana's sole weakness seems to be from crosses from wide; in all other areas, they seem a very strong, organised and skillful side.

Another good cross from the right causes confusion in the middle of the Ghana defence; the ball runs out to Totti, who's cross is deflected behind off Pantsil.

Cannavaro does very well to get his body in the way as he shepherds Essien off the ball inside the Italy penalty area.

Gyan causes a moment's panic when he hussles Cannavaro out of possession, but the veteran defender recovers himself.

Ghana will be delighted with the start they have made; they look very strong and well capable of winning this match. Italy are going to have to be at their best.

CRUCIAL HEADER! Nesta makes a crucial defensive header inside his own penalty area as Amoah looked to turn home an exellent cross from the right.

Pappoe is getting a lot of space down the Ghana left; Italy's three-man midfield is very narrow, and it is allowing space for the Ghana left-back to attack down the flank.

Totti has a lot to prove to the world after two very poor tournaments and an injury-hit season for Roma in Serie A; he is undoubtedly talented, but has shown little on the world stage for some time.

POOR FINISH! Pirlo works the ball across the face of the penalty area to Totti, but the Roma striker blasts his shot high over the crossbar from 18 yards out.

Pirlo's attempted cross in to the middle is handled by Addo, just outside the penalty area on the right-side. Pirlo stands over the set-piece...

Gilardino is pushed from behind by Kuffour; free-kick to Italy.

It has been a good start to the game; it is a more offensive-minded Italy side than we have been used to at previous World Cups, and Ghana seem to have the same positive intent.

WHAT A CHANCE! Toni is inches from turning in a low cross from the right. The ball makes its way to Toni at the back post, but his prod towards goal is deflected on to the post.

...But Appiah curls his free-kick in to the defensive wall and Italy clear.

Essien gets up a little gingerly from the challenge by De Rossi. Appiah stands over the set-piece...

De Rossi is booked for a late challenge on Essien on the edge of the penalty area. Free-kick in a very dangerous spot...

Ghana are really pressurising the Italian players, not giving them any time to settle or pick their passes; it is a high-tempo game they are attempting.

Ghana look to be a little suspect when balls are delivered in to the box from wide positions; the goalkeeper doesn't look at all certain.

OVER! Cannavaro plants a header over the crossbar from another Pirlo corner.

A couple of Italy corners cause panic in the Ghana defence, especially the goalkeeper Kingston, who misses a couple of punches as the balls curl in to the crowded penalty area.

GOOD BLOCK! Pantsil makes an important block to prevent Totti from getting a low cross in to the middle.

Ghana have a good spell with the ball inside the Italy half, but it ends when a cross from the right is easily claimed by Buffon.

A promising Ghana move ends when Addo can't direct his pass in to the run of Amoah.

Already, the Ghana midfield have sent a couple of high, searching balls forward for Gyan and Amoah to scrap for.

Ghana look to be a very strong, direct side; this is going to be a real test for Italy.

Toni goes down under a strong challenge on the edge of the penalty area; the ball is put out of play while he gets to his feet. Very sporting play by the Ghanaians.

This is a massive game for Ghana; they really feel that they can cause an upset or two in this tournament.

Ghana appear to be lining up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Amoah and Gyan up front. Totti plays behind Gilardino and Toni in an attacking 4-3-1-2 formation for Italy.

HERE WE GO, READERS! Ghana kick off the first half in Hannover.

Hi, welcome to our coverage of Italy's World Cup Group E match against Ghana.