Italy ties Paraguay 1-1

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) - Italy opened defense of its World Cup title with an underwhelming, rain-soaked 1-1 draw with Paraguay on Monday.

Paraguay defender Antolin Alcaraz scored on a header in the 39th minute of the Group F match. Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi equalized from close range in the 63rd after a miscue by goalkeeper Justo Villar.

Already without injured midfielder Andrea Pirlo, Italy's fortunes took another hit when it lost perhaps its most valuable player, goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, after the first half. The 32-year-old Buffon was removed in favor of inexperienced backup Federico Marchetti due to an apparent back problem.

De Rossi made up for the opening goal, sliding in to redirect a corner kick from Simone Pepe. It was a solid start for the midfielder who was suspended for four games during Italy's victorious 2006 run after bloodying the face of U.S. forward Brian McBride with a sharp elbow.

After a day of often intense rain, the match kicked off under a drizzle, leaving the field slippery. Temperatures stood at 46 degrees, but the swirling winds coming off the ocean made it feel colder.

Netherlands 2, Denmark 0

JOHANNESBURG (AP) - The Netherlands scored on an own goal and beat Denmark 2-0 at the World Cup even though its dangerous attack was stymied for much of the game.

The Dutch took the lead in the 46th minute when Denmark defender Simon Poulsen headed a ball off the back of teammate Daniel Agger and into the net. Poulsen was trying to clear a cross from Robin van Persie.

Dirk Kuyt doubled the lead in the 85th when he tapped in a rebound off the post from close range.

Denmark had frustrated the Dutch until the own goal with a compact midfield, and the Netherlands never came close to the free-flowing, high-scoring type of play their fans have become accustomed to, despite several other chances.

So the Netherlands had to rely on a bit of luck, as Van Persie beat an onrushing Thomas Sorensen to a long through ball down the left side early in the second half before squaring up to send a cross into the penalty area. Poulsen had plenty of time and space to clear the ball, but his off-balance header bounced off Agger's back and into the net.

Japan 1, Cameroon 0

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa (AP) - Keisuke Honda scored in the first half Monday to lead Japan to a 1-0 win over an uninspired Cameroon in Group E of the World Cup.

The win is Japan's first at the World Cup on foreign soil, and puts the Japanese at the top of Group E along with the Netherlands, which beat Denmark 2-0 earlier Monday.

After a sloppy opening 30 minutes at the Free State Stadium, Japan broke the deadlock in the 39th when Daisuke Matsui's curling cross from the right drifted over Cameroon defenders Nicolas Nkoulou and Stephane Mbia and fell to Honda at the back post. The striker neatly controlled the ball and slotted it past goalkeeper Hamidou Souleymanou.

Despite an attack led by Samuel Eto'o, Cameroon never really challenged Japan keeper Eiji Kawashima. The Africans struggled to control the ball and generate any rhythm up front, and even when they managed to put a few passes together, the buildup was usually wasted by poor crosses.