Italy began their World Cup campaign with a solid 2-0 victory over Ghana on Monday which won the approval of coach Marcello Lippi.
Andrea Pirlo's rasping 40th-minute drive put Italy ahead before substitute Vincenzo Iaquinta settled an intriguing Group E contest of contrasting styles with a breakaway goal seven minutes from the end.
Italy twice hit the woodwork in the first half and Ghana keeper Richard Kingston made a series of excellent saves to keep the four-time African champions in the game before Iaquinta struck.
Question marks have been raised about Italy's ability to cope with the distraction of the Serie A match-fixing scandal that is rumbling on back in the peninsula.
But despite several scares, the Azzurri never looked like ending up with anything less than three priceless points.
"We knew Ghana were strong and would put us under pressure but we got the three points and we are very satisfied," Lippi said.
Most neutrals were rooting for Ghana, hoping to see one of world football's aristocrats embarrassed by the African underdogs, appearing at their first World Cup.
But too often the Black Stars lost their composure in front of goal after creating good openings, and in the end Italy's class told.
Ghana coach Ratomir Dujkovic said after their loss he was disappointed with some of his players, while conceding Italy were the better side.
"They were very good," Dujkovic said. "All the stories [on match-fixing] in Italy have not affected them. They deserved to win.
"Maybe we had some chances but we missed," he said.
Kingston, preferred to Sammy Adjei in Ghana's goal, came to their rescue in the 12th minute, smothering a shot from Alberto Gilardino before seeing the ball hit the outside of the post.
After Sulley Muntari's drive had whistled over the bar, Italy were once again denied by the woodwork.
Gilardino's flick released Luca Toni whose fierce right-footed shot thumped the underside of the bar.
Italy finally made the breakthrough five minutes before half-time.
Totti tapped a corner short to Pirlo, whose right-footed drive from just outside the box flew into the bottom corner.
Fabio Grosso came close to putting Italy further ahead just before the break, but Kingston was equal to his angled strike.
Totti went off injured after picking up a knock before Ghana's backline was brutally exposed in the 83rd minute.
Pirlo released Iaquinta, who was beaten to the ball by Sammy Kuffour, but the Roma defender's backpass was woefully short.
Iaquinta took full advantage of the error, rounding Kingston before slotting the ball into an unguarded net.
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