Italy made a few attacking moves in the first half and were no more defensive than Uruguay, De Sciglio and Darmian were working overtime on the flanks and I think the former played quite well. Immobile kept cocking up every attack whenever he received the ball, for a man that scored 22 goals in Serie A it's quite obvious that he's not up to this level of football.
The second half they lost that attacking attitude because Mario was pulled off for Parolo who's a central midfielder that isn't inclined to rush forward and coordinate attacks, I think this was the tactical mistake that caught them. Mario got a second yellow, he'd obviously miss the next game if Italy went through, and Prandelli supposedly pulled him off afraid that he'd get himself sent off considering his rash challenges in the first half. Utter bollocks, it's a do or die game and he's going to miss the next game anyway so why not just order him to keep a cool head, not do an Eric Cantona with his tackles and try his best whenever he receives the ball? Parolo added nothing to the game and Immobile continued his mishaps up front.
Marchisio's sending off was what triggered a complete change in the attitude, they wouldn't dare commit too many players forward being one man down and playing against Suarez who's lethal on the counter as England and Cahill found out first hand. Poor Marchisio will be blaming himself for what happened.