Croatia pulled off a thrilling 2-1 victory over three-time champions Italy on Saturday, making the prospect of Group G hard to predict.
Italy, Croatia and Mexico have three points apiece with Ecuador placing last without a win.
After a lackluster first half, three goals were scored in the action-packed second half while Italy's two goals were nullified by a linesman and another by Franscesco Totti denied by woodwork.
It was the Italians' first World Cup finals defeat in regulation time since 1994.
Filippo Inzaghi thought the Italians had hit an injury time equalizer but the goal was disallowed by the linesman for an earlier foul.
Christian Vieri put Italy 1-0 ahead with a powerful header on a Cristiano Doni's cross just at the 55th minute after the Inter Milan striker's goal had been controversially ruled out.
Substitute Ivica Olic pulled the Croats even in the 73rd minute before Milan Rapaic shocked the Italians with a curling shot into a far corner four minutes later.
Italy created several chances in the last 10 minutes. The best opportunity came in the 87th minute as Totti's free kick hit the left post, bounding just off the goal line as Croatia keeper Stipe Pletikosa was watching helplessly.
The two European teams have met four times in recent years, with both teams winning a game and drawing two. The Italians last beat Croatia in a 1942 friendly while Croatia beat Italy during a European Championship qualifier in 1994.
Italy looked lethargic in the beginning, managing only two shots on goal against Croatia's seven in the first half.
In the 15th minute, Italian Cristiano Doni had a chance to open the account, beating Robert Kovac, but his shot was blocked by goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa.
Croatia responded with three shots within four minutes, the most serious a Davor Vrugineric blast that was cleared off the line.
Croatia coach Mirko Jozic said after the match: "My players played die-hard football out there today -- they were dying for each other on the pitch.
"But they showed very strong character to come back tonight after conceding a goal, then equalise and win the game against the very strong Italians. They played exactly as I wanted them to."
Teams:
Italy: 1-Gianluigi Buffon; 2-Christian Panucci, 5-Fabio Cannavaro, 13-Alessandro Nesta (23-Marco Materazzi 23), 3-Paolo Maldini; 19-Gianluca Zambrotta, 6-Cristiano Zanetti, 17-Damiano Tommasi, 11-Cristiano Doni (9-Filippo Inzaghi 79); 10-Francesco Totti, 21-Christian Vieri.
Croatia: 1-Stipe Pletikosa; 15-Daniel Saric, 21-Robert Kovac,3-Josip Simunic, 17-Robert Jarni; 4-Stjepan Tomas, 14-Zvonimir Soldo(16-Jurica Vranjes 63), 10-Niko Kovac, 7-Davor Vugrinec(18-Ivica Olic 57), 5-Milan Rapaic (20-Dario Simic 79), 11-Alen Boksic.
Match referee: Graham Poll (England)
Linesmen : Egon Bereuter (Austria)
Ali Tomusange (Uganda)
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