Friday, June 13, 2008

Italy vs Romania


Group C guaranteed excitement from the day it was taken out of the hat. And it has not failed us today. 


Italy, who lost their first match 3-0 to the Dutch, were in danger of facing an early exit from the tournament if they lost today. Romania on the other hand held France to the only goal less draw so far. 


Roberto Donadoni made 5 changes to his team, the most important one being Serie A`s top scorer,Alessandro del Piero coming into the side and wearing the captain`s arm band in the absence of Fabio Cannavaro. 


The skipper for the day could have opened the scoring on as early as the 9th minute when his header went just wide of the near post. The Juventus man really continuing from where he left off in the last match.


Luca Toni also had his chances and it all started when he just couldnt connect to Mauro Camoranesi`s gorgeous cross from the left.


But it wasent just the world champions doing the attacking. Romania, were were the dark horses of the group of death, wanted to show their rather glamorous opponents, that despite not having the same amount of quality, they are no push overs. Both teams were yet to get a goal in this UEFA Euro 2008.


That was clearly displayed by Adrian Mutu, who co-incidencially plays his club football in Italy, ran down the leaf flank getting ahead of the defense but his shot saved by  his former Juventus team mate Gianluigi Buffon. 


Fabio Grosso picked up the big Luca Toni, who ended the German Bundasliga as the top scorer last season, but the Bayren man headed over the goal instead of inside it. 


It was really end to end stuff from both sides and that was clearly shown when Victor Piturca`s side had another wonderful chance. A free kick, deflected off by Christian Panucci, hit the post before finally being cleared away. But in trying to win the ball back Rat and Mirel clashed heads leading to both of them bleeding. The former was able to continue but the later had to be taken off and was replaced by attacking midfielder Dica. 


Back at the other end balls are being headed wide of the post. First del Piero`s heads Grosso`s cross wide and then Toni puts Camoranesi`s ball off target. 


Razvan Rat, who had a big bandage on his head following his clash with Mirel, was inches from scoring the first goal for his side. He kept his 30 yard screamer low and it was just off the mark.


Toni has had a wonderful last 2 years, first ending as top scorer of the Italian Serie A, then winning the world cup and now leading the charts in Germany as well. But he has been off the mark at this championship, but he had 2 great openings in the 39th minute. 


The 31 year old is a very tall man and easy to spot. Most set pieces are aimed at his head and it was no surprise when Del Piero`s conner found him. The former Florentina striker got this one on target but Romania keeper Bogdan Lobont made a stunning one hand save to deny Italy their first of the Euros. Seconds later the same man nodded down Zambrotta`s cross and it was in the path of Giorgio Chiellini but the keeper pounced on it to clear it away from danger. 


One of the best halves of the tournament could have seen the only thing it was missing, a goal, in the dying moments. Camoranesi played a short conner to his former Juventus team mate Zambrotta and his cross to Toni was finally headed in but flagged offside by the refree. But replays showed that the number 9 was infact on side and that goal should have stood. 


Both teams had their chances in the second period of the contest and we finally had the first goal. Former Barcelona full back Gianluca Zambrotta headed the ball into Adrian Mutu`s path, and the man who has played for 5 different Italian teams, made no mistake in putting the ball beautifully past Buffon. 


They say the you are most venerable just after you have scored and that was demonstrated just then as Donadani`s men pulled back the equalizer. Chiellini headed a conner towards the goal and it was AS Roma defender Christian Panucci who slotted home from very close range. 


It was all square at the Letzigrund Stadium and both teams were back to business as usual. Del Piero`s cross was just one bit too far for Toni to get upto as another opportunity for the Munich man goes begging. 


Second half sub Niculae did well to get into Italy`s box but Fabio Grosso did wonderfully to clear it off the feet of the Steaua Bucharest man.


Daniel di Rossi, who was banned for almost the entire world cup for breaking Brain McBride`s nose, has his header from close range stunningly saved by the keeper.


10 before time, Romania were given a penalty. Nicuale was brought down by the goal scorer Panucci as he tried to get onto the end of a Mutu cross.


Adrian Mutu had the chance to send the reigning world champions out of the Euro if he could convert this one. The striker hasent had the best run up to the tournament, as he recieved the news of his grand mother`s death just 28 hours before the his first game. The man who got the opener of the match went right and so did the Juventus keeper who saved it with his top hand. 


A hugely entertaining and open match was ended by both teams sharing the points and that was probably the fair result. Both teams with a shout in it for making it to the knock out phase in the final and very important last matchday of this Group C. 

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