But del Piero’s close-range header from a Vincenzo Montella cross ended any danger of the Italians going the way of France and Argentina, even if Croatia’s defeat against Ecuador meant they would have sneaked through anyway.

Italy, aiming to avoid an early exit from the World Cup for the first time since 1974, started with a changed line-up, coach Giovanni Trapattoni opting to play Francesco Totti in a free role in a 3-4-1-2 formation.

It was from a Totti through-ball that Filippo Inzaghi turned the ball the net on 13 minutes but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Inzaghi turned provider after 20 minutes when he skipped past a defender’s challenge and set up a glorious chance for Totti. With just goalkeeper Oscar Perez to beat, however, the Azzurri playmaker could only steer the ball wide of the far post.

Italy were getting closer. From a Totti flick-on Vieri unleashed a 15-yard volley straight at Perez. Then Totti fired a low free-kick just wide of the far post.

Having survived those scares, Mexico went down the other end and scored. Cuauhtemoc Blanco chipped the ball into the box and Borgetti outjumped Alessandro Nesta to glance the ball past Gianluigi Buffon and into the far corner for his second goal of the tournament.

It could have got worse for the Italians as Salvador Carmona flashed a volley just wide of Buffon’s left-hand post and then Borgetti had a shot blocked by Nesta, who was playing despite a painful foot injury.

Inzaghi should have equalised five minutes into the second half when Totti’s angled pass sent him clean through on goal but Perez stuck out a hand to push the ball to safety.

At the other end, Nesta had to clear off the line after Jesus Arellano slipped the ball under Buffon following a lovely one-two with Borgetti.

Now the Mexicans, cheered on by their noisy supporters, looked the more likely and Ramon Morales and Joahan Rodriguez were both inches wide with efforts.

After 63 minutes Italy had a second goal disallowed - to follow the two they had ruled out against Croatia - when substitute Montella lifted the ball over Perez but he was adjudged offside.

Vieri should have scored after 72 minutes but he lost control of the ball after being played in by a Totti pass and Montella was even more wasteful when he blasted over.

But all that was forgotten when del Piero nodded the equaliser to end any fears of elimination for the Italians.