Italy secured their place in the World Cup second round as they eliminated the 10-man Czech Republic with a 2-0 Group E victory in Hamburg on Thursday.

A goal in each half from Marco Materazzi and Filippo Inzaghi was enough to give Marcello Lippi's men the points as the Czechs had Jan Polak sent off for two bookable offences.

Karel Bruckner's side made a bright start, pinning the Italians into their own half in the opening exchanges with some fine passing and movement.

Gianluigi Buffon was forced into a fine double save after 15 minutes, parrying Pavel Nedved's shot from distance and blocking Marek Jankulovski's follow up.

Italy's first meaningful effort came from the head of Gennaro Gattuso, when his 20-yard effort landed on the roof of the net.

But Italy did take the lead in 26th minute when substitute Materazzi - on the field just nine minutes as a replacement for groin-injury victim Alessandro Nesta - towered above the Czech defence to powerful head Francesco Totti's corner into the bottom corner.

And the Czech's plight became far more difficult when a minute before the interval Polak was sent off after collecting his second bookable offence.

The Italians made a bright start to the second period with Totti's 30-yard free-kick bobbling wide and the playmaker then forcing a fine low save from Petr Cech.

Nedved's drive then forced Buffon to parry, before a well-worked Italian free-kick saw Fabio Cannavaro volley over the bar.

Mauro Camoranesi then flashed a free header wide as the began to make their numerical advantage count, while Inzaghi stroked an effort wide after finding himself one-on-one with Cech.

Nedved's superb strike then produced a flying save from Buffon, while at the other end Inzaghi flashed a header wide with the goal at his mercy.

And with just three minutes left on the clock, Inzaghi - on his 50th cap - burst clear of the Czech defence, rounded Cech and tapped into an empty net.

The victory was enough to help the Italians secure top spot in the group with seven points, while Ghana's 2-1 win over the USA sees the Africans finish as runners-up.