Materazzi came through to send Italy through to the second round.

Materazzi headed in a corner kick in the 26th minute to help Italy win Group E with a 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic on Thursday and avoid a second-round matchup with Brazil.

"It's everyone's dream to replace the greatest defender in the world and then score in the World Cup," Materazzi said.

Materazzi's goal helped knock out the Czech Republic and provided a pleasant distraction from a soccer corruption scandal back home. The game ended just a half-hour before four Italian clubs were ordered to stand trial in the scandal, which involves allegations of match-fixing, illegal betting and manipulation of referee assignments.

Juventus, AC Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina -- which account for 13 players on Italy's roster -- face possible demotion from Serie A.

"We're completely focused on the World Cup," coach Marcello Lippi said. "The pressure we faced was the possibility of losing and going home. After the World Cup we can think about those things."

Substitute Filippo Inzaghi scored on a breakaway in the 87th to clinch the victory for Italy, which won the group with seven points. Italy will face Australia on Monday in Kaiserslautern.

Lippi was especially pleased with how Materazzi and Inzaghi kept their focus while sitting on the bench for Italy's first two games.

"In competitions like these you need to have patience," Lippi said. "You can't be nervous when your time comes or you won't find yourself ready."

The Czechs, ranked second in the world, were eliminated from the tournament, finishing with only the three points they earned in their opening 3-0 win over the United States. Ghana, which beat the Czechs 2-0 last Saturday, finished second with six points.

Pavel Nedved produced several long shots for the Czechs and Juventus teammate Gianluigi Buffon did well to keep Italy's goal empty. Nedved said he spoke about Juve's predicament with Buffon and Alessandro Del Piero for 10 minutes after the game.

"We discussed whether they will stay at the club or where we might go," said Nedved, who is contemplating retirement.

Nedved said he has received several offers from other clubs.

"I have to decide what to do. I don't know what's going to happen with my club," he said.

The Czechs fell behind early when 6-foot-5 Materazzi outleaped Jan Polak and Radoslav Kovac to head in a corner kick by Francesco Totti less than 10 minutes after coming on. It was his first goal in 29 international appearances.

The Czechs were reduced to 10 men when Polak picked up his second yellow card in first-half injury time. They also ended with only 10 men in their loss to Ghana.

"We had to play twice against strong opponents with only 10 men," Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner said. "It was almost impossible. We were troubled by a number of problems including our own mistakes."

The Czechs pressed early and Milan Baros, returning from a left foot injury, nearly connected on an excellent crossfield setup from Nedved in the ninth minute.

Buffon had to lunge to his left to stop an 18-yard shot by Nedved in the 12th. A few minutes later, Nedved intercepted a pass and sent the ball upfield to Baros, who earned a corner kick after a physical battle with Nesta, who rarely loses such duels.

Nedved sent another shot on goal from outside the area in the 16th minute that Buffon stopped but couldn't quite gather, and the goalkeeper also had to block an attempt on the rebound from Marek Jankulovski.

Gennaro Gattuso's long header landed on top of the net for Italy's first shot in the 25th minute and Italy took the lead with its first shot on goal a minute later.

Polak received his first yellow for a foul on Mauro Camoranesi in the 35th, then fouled Totti from behind for his second card.

Italy took the initiative at the start of the second half, with two shots early by Totti. Nedved then got the ball on the counterattack and put a powerful shot on goal that Buffon punched away.

In the 56th minute, Italy showed off its skill on a free kick. Totti lofted the ball to Andrea Pirlo, who volleyed it to Fabio Cannavaro, who shot high.

Inzaghi got his first playing time of this World Cup when he replaced Alberto Gilardino in the 60th and sealed the match three minutes from the end when he dribbled around goalkeeper Petr Cech to tap in his 22nd goal in 50 international games.