Italy returned to Rome in disgrace on Saturday (June 26) after being knocked out of the World Cup in the first round for the first time since 1974.

Mobbed by media and a handful of furious fans outside Rome's Fiumicino airport, the players looked tired and sad.

Juventus player Simone Pepe said he was a bit apprehensive about coming back.

[Simone Pepe, Juventus Team Player]:

"But it was also right that the fans got to vent their frustration. This adventure went badly but we always gave the most we could."

Italy, a creaking shadow of the 2006 champions, were sterile in a draw with Paraguay, exposed as woefully short of ideas when held 1-1 by New Zealand and outclassed in their stunning 3-2 defeat by Slovakia.

A few Italian fans expressed their disappointment.

[Francesco and Carlo, Italian Fans]:

"It's a scandal, it's shameful. This year's been really shameful; we really thought it would go better than this."

Coach Marcello Lippi was hounded by angry fans who pounced on him in his car as he waited to leave the airport, but would not comment on his team's performance.

Soccer is a religion in Italy and the 2006 heroes' exit plunged the nation into introspection and accusations against the departing coach.

The 2006 holders and runners-up France both went out after finishing last in what appeared fairly mundane groups. The only consolation for their coaches, Marcelo Lippi and Raymond Domenech, was that they had already announced they were leaving.