Sunday,
June 22, 2008
The
ANNOTICO Report
Fabio
Cannavaro was injured and out. Inzaghi, for some reason was left off the squad.
Gattuso and Pirlo were absent from
this game because of Yellow Cards.
Luca
Toni and Daniele De Rossi were to be
Actually,
Chiellini, Zambrotta, and Panucci were the standouts on the Italian squad
After game,
Gattuso Blames defeat on Poor Fitness
Should
coach Roberto Donadoni stay or not
?The debate already begins.
The public opinion is
strongly against the former
See
Italy Player Ratings at end.
Daniele
De Rossi and Antonio Di Natale were denied by Casillas, while Daniel Guiza was
the only one to miss for
First Half
Group D winners
It was a very tactical affair with much of the game being played in the middle
of the field. Villa went down in the box under a challenge from Ambrosini, and although there was minimal contact the
referee was never going to give a penalty.
Torres then found space down the left and cut into the area, but Gianluca Zambrotta quickly got back to put the forward off.
The chess match continued but
Buffon had to be sharp again just past the half-hour as Silva drifted to the
right, cut inside, before unleashing a daisycutter
that the keeper took no chances with, even though it was probably creeping
wide. Xavi also tried his luck from range, but his
shot was deflected off target.
Silva had been
Second Half
Into the second half, and Silva almost had a glorious opportunity inside the
area following a poor clearance from Christian Panucci,
but Giorgio Chiellini made a superb last ditch
tackle.
Torres shrugged Panucci off the ball down the left,
and tried to cross for Villa who would have had an open goal at the back post,
but Chiellini made another crucial intervention.
On the hour mark Italy had a golden chance to take the lead, as a scramble in
the box broke to substitute Camoranesi eight yards
out, but Casillas made a superb save with his foot to
keep t he scores level.
Aquilani then tried his luck from distance, but he
never caught hold of his volley and it went well wide. Down the other end
Villas free kick looped up onto the roof of the net off the defensive
wall. The
Italy were pinning their hopes mainly on Toni, and the target towered above his
marker from a Zambrotta cross, but headed over.
Sergio Ramos bombed forward from right back for
On 74 minutes
Sergio Ramos tested Buffon with a looping left footed shot following a short
corner, but it was comfortable for the Juventus man.
Down the other end
Poor control also cost Villa dear in injury time following a fine Fabregas ball as the game inevitably moved into extra time.
Spain attacked from the off in extra time, and they were inches away
from breaking the deadlock on 92 minutes as Chiellinis
block on Guiza fell to Silva, whose ferocious shot
from the edge of the box whizzed inches wide.
Extra Time
The slow pace off the game continued, and penalties
loomed nearer and nearer. Guiza meanwhile screwed a
shot well wide just before the two sides swapped around for the final 15
minutes.
On 107 minutes Alessandro Del Piero was introduced
for Aquilani, presumably with the intention of taking
a penalty if, as was looking likely, it went to a shootout.
Silva slid Villa through on goal, but the strikers touch forced him wide,
and Buffon made the block. From the resulting corner Ramos headed wide.
In the 117th minute Di Natale found space to run
into, but he shot disappointingly off target. Guiza
pot-shot down the other end was watched wide by Buffon. Cazorla
was then out of luck with a cross-shot as the referee blew for full tim e and the game went to
penalties.
Penalties
Villa, Grosso, and Cazorla all scored their
penalties, before
Villa (S): Scored
Grosso (I): Scored
Cazorla (S): Scored
De Rossi (I): Saved
S enna (S): Scored
Camoranesi (I): Scored
Guiza (S): Saved
Di Natale(I):
Saved
Fabregas (S): Scored
Carlo
Garganese
===================================================================================================================
Chiellini 8.5: An absolute rock at
the back. Owned both Torres and Villa, and made two brilliant last-gasp
interventions. The most positive thing to come out of this tournament for
Zambrotta 7: Excellent defensively,
controlling Iniesta as well as Villa when he drifted
to the left. Made few raids past the half way line,
and this was a signal of
Panucci 7: A calming influence in defence. Made a couple of poor clearances, but tactically
he organised the backline superbly.
Buffon
6.5:
Had virtually nothing to do during the 120 minutes, but was fortunate after
spilling a harmless Senna shot onto the post. Saved
one penalty in the shootout, but unfortunately for
Grosso 6.5: Not as impressive as in the group stages, and was caused a
few problems by Silva one-on-one, when the winger switched flanks. However,
tactically, he did his job as part of the Italian unit.
De Rossi 6: Sat in front of the back four, and closed up the space. But
with a lack of creativity among his midfield peers, he couldn't dominate, or
leave his post, like he did against
Ambrosini 6: An honest and committed
performance from Ambrosini, but unfortunately he
offers nothing going forward, meaning Itay were on the backfoot for most of
the game.
Cassano
5.5:
Had some nice touches, but in truth it never really happened for Cassano. In
his defence, he was playing far too far away from
goal due to a lack of midfield support. He was also partnering the attrocious Toni. Even Maradona or
Pele would have looked bad next to the Bayern man.
Perrotta 5: Worked tirelessly, but
like all of the midfield, barring De Rossi, did not have the quality to match.
Aquilani 4: Hid like a little schoolkid scared about getting the slipper from his mother.
He needed to step up to the plate tonight but he was like a ghost. Pirlo was sorely missed.
Toni 3: What has happened to the great Toni this tournament? Or was he
really ever that great? Toni has never really done it in the big matches and
against the big teams for
Substitutes
Camoranesi 6.5: Added
some creativity to the play after coming on, and at least linked the play with
the attack. Had the best chance of the game, and was denied by a brilliant Casillas save.
Di Natale 5.5: Looked sharp, but
despite his age he lacked the experience at this level. Penalty miss was
crucial.
Del Piero N/A
Carlo
Garganese
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