1
- 6 weeks ago
Italy won all three of their group games. Romania beat England to second place in group A.
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00:00Italy have been able to sit back and watch the week's dramas unfold.
00:04Five of this team haven't kicked a ball for ten days.
00:07Only three of them started last Monday's dead rubber against Sweden.
00:11It's the same line-up as beat Belgium in this stadium in the second of their three straight wins.
00:17Alessandro Del Piero waits on a star-studded substitutes bench.
00:22How long he waits depends on Inzaghi and Totti.
00:26The victory over England took its toll on Romania.
00:29Four enforced changes.
00:31A brand new central defensive partnership.
00:33Number three, Chubatario.
00:34And number 17, the veteran Vela de Dic.
00:37Number 14, Florentine Petre starts his first game of the tournament in Dan Petrescu's position.
00:43But overshadowing every other name on that list.
00:45The return of Giorgi Haji, which will have been occupying the mind of Dino Zoff
00:50and all the Italian camps in the build-up to the game.
00:54They just haven't been themselves.
00:56They've qualified for this stage convincingly, not like Italy at all.
01:01They've exceeded even their own public's expectations.
01:05There is a retro look to their kit.
01:08And they're trying to turn the clock back to the days of Rossi, Tardelli and Gentili.
01:141982, the year Italy last won a major international title.
01:18And he was the goalkeeper in that World Cup winning team.
01:22Yes, the current coach, Dino Zoff.
01:30Throw in which Zambrota takes.
01:32Forward towards Nzaghi.
01:34He's run a decision.
01:37Be interested to see if they go flat out at the start.
01:39They certainly had a great start in the last match.
01:42They started very quick against Turkey.
01:44And I just wonder whether they'll try and snatch something early on.
01:49Free kick which Cannavaro will take.
01:58Claim though by the Romanian goalkeeper, Bocan Stelja.
02:05Romania's last ditch victory over England was only four days ago.
02:08The Italians have had an extra 24 hours to recover.
02:11Indeed, their first 11 hasn't turned out since that win here against Belgium 10 days ago.
02:19Nesta is the wound itself.
02:25Albertini into Totti.
02:27Late run comes from Fiore.
02:28Helped in to Nzaghi!
02:32He does need a goal.
02:37Had to hit it early, but I mean, nice little ball into the hole.
02:41Fiore making up the ground, just loves it into his path.
02:44Plenty to do, but it's an opportunity.
02:46Good opportunity.
02:47On top of his game, it has scored there.
02:50Four marks to Galka for making it difficult for him.
02:56Maldini's responsibility on this left-hand side for Italy.
02:58Although, for me, as a wing-back, he only comes halfway up.
03:02He doesn't very often search the distance.
03:04Totti.
03:05In towards Nzaghi.
03:07First touch wasn't the best.
03:08But he's pulled it back down to Fiore!
03:10And his first touch certainly wasn't the best.
03:14It was a real chance.
03:15He just couldn't quite catch up with it to hit it on the half-ball.
03:18It was rising as it reached him, and it was certainly rising.
03:21It left him.
03:22Yeah, their best move of the game.
03:23Good ball.
03:23I think it was from Totti across to Nzaghi.
03:25He stands it back in.
03:26He's got a feeling he's stood up just...
03:27Yeah, he stands up.
03:28It's like your little hard-volley cricket, like when the slip fielder goes to take it.
03:32And he would have had to show some terrific acrobatics and agility.
03:38And then Fiori and, as I say, Fiori and Totti try and get round him from time to time.
03:42But without any link-up or any combination.
03:44I think they rely on individual skills.
03:48Mutu has got plenty of those.
03:50Haji.
03:51Might come here for Petrae.
03:53A little ambitious, but deflated off Maldini.
03:55And again, Toto had to react.
03:58Long way down for such a big goalkeeper.
04:01Yeah, I mean, good positive striker.
04:02The ball this could have counted anywhere when he hit Maldini.
04:06Another game of great flow.
04:08It's been enthralling.
04:10Neeson and Richland.
04:13Albertini.
04:16Maldini's header.
04:17Nzaghi's underneath it.
04:18Turned away by Chubatario.
04:19Back in by Fiori.
04:20No flag.
04:21Great chance for Totti.
04:32Francesco Totti puts Italy in front.
04:37They've been simmering no more.
04:39And then suddenly they come to the boil.
04:51From here there doesn't look to be that much danger, but it's health back on.
04:54Totti's not offside.
04:56And he takes it brilliantly.
04:58Chess it down.
04:59Stays cool.
05:01And when you've got skill, that's what you can produce.
05:03And that's skill.
05:05Typical of the way Italy have played.
05:07Very quiet.
05:08Been economical.
05:10One chance has fallen their way.
05:11And he's taken it.
05:13There'll be some debate about the retreating players.
05:16No doubt about that.
05:17But the assistant officials decided they were not active in the move.
05:22Totti certainly was active.
05:24The second international in a row that he's scored for Italy.
05:27Both at the same end of the field.
05:29At the same field, strangely enough.
05:32And Totti's goal, somewhat against the run of play, gives Italy the advantage.
05:40It's amazing, though.
05:41You sit here and you just have a feeling something, all of a sudden, something's going to open up for
05:45them.
05:46I mean, you're spot on.
05:47They have been, Romaino have been the tidiest side and have shown more brightness and more invention.
05:55And the gamble to leave Del Piero out from the start.
05:58Well, the verdict on that.
05:59So far, so good for Dino Zoff.
06:05We're making the point just prior to the goal that the Italians have never seen Zoff so animated.
06:10And he's so cool today.
06:12I think he's quite happy when his side is just sitting there, defending.
06:15I don't think it bothers him too much.
06:16I think he gets excited if he starts coming forward too much.
06:22Mutu.
06:23That's a terrific pass towards Hacchi.
06:26Goalkeeper committed here, Toto.
06:28Off-limits.
06:29And Hacchi has hit the woodwork.
06:31And Italy have had an escape with Giuliano's clearance.
06:35Almost a brilliant goal from Giorgi Hacchi.
06:37Almost a catastrophe for Francesco Toldo.
06:41Almost wasn't enough for Romania.
06:44Is that the big minute in the match?
06:46I don't know, but it's certainly the best move of the game.
06:48I mean, a brilliant cross-field ball from Tutu, from Mutu, Tutu, from Mutu.
06:53And there he stands it on the so-called wrong foot.
06:56And we're sat right behind that as it's going in.
06:58You think, is it?
06:59Isn't it?
06:59Isn't it?
07:00It agonised when he hits the post.
07:02And did he score a goal like that in the American World Cup?
07:06In Los Angeles.
07:06I was there from the opposite flank, yeah.
07:12I was going to crawl a couple of minutes for Romania.
07:16Totti, the goal scorer.
07:18Back to Giuliano, who eventually scooped that away.
07:20And it almost came for one of Hacchi's teammates.
07:23Early forward by Zambrotta.
07:25Here goes Inzaghi.
07:26Might still come for Totti.
07:31Well, it's all happening suddenly in this match.
07:34And he is the man who's making some of it happen.
07:37Almost a similar chance.
07:39Here's that diagonal ball again.
07:40Terry Venables was talking about that before the game.
07:42How they try and use that.
07:43We've got two strikers in together.
07:45And that might even have been almost an easier chance than when he scored.
07:50Gentili behind you.
07:55Seven minutes of the half remaining.
07:58Hacchi just rolled for Montellano.
08:01But Fiore, now hit by Galka.
08:05We can't get a left-footed player in England, can we?
08:08There's three left-fucks there.
08:11Hacchi, who you thought was going to blast the first one.
08:13Shrewd a little free.
08:14It's a huge little layoff.
08:16Montellano smacks it.
08:17That nearly knocks somebody out.
08:19And Galka really cannons this one.
08:20And that's only just why.
08:22I'll tell you why Hacchi didn't hit it.
08:23He's limping.
08:26Giuliano forward.
08:27Fiore was on his way back.
08:36Albertini swept forward.
08:38No flag against Inzaghi.
08:39Great chance for Pippo Inzaghi.
08:41Two-nil.
08:52Last three minutes of the first half.
08:55Italy double their money.
08:57And the drought is over for Kipo Inzaghi.
09:00His first international goal from open play for over a year.
09:06Well, he lives on the shoulders.
09:07He's done the last man there.
09:08But where he's been a bit fortunate, it's a good, cool finish.
09:12When Albertini plays it through, I'm sure he takes a deflection that squirts the ball between the back line.
09:19I think Albertini's pass might have been going wide.
09:21I'm sure it squeezed up a defender, or actually a striker's toe.
09:25Somebody was recovering.
09:26It might have been Mutu trying to recover and make a challenge on him to squeeze the ball into his
09:31run.
09:32But he certainly took it well enough.
09:34He was a defender on the near side.
09:35Wasn't the two playing everybody on?
09:37Oh, it wasn't a question of sides.
09:41Well, he's had a rocky ride in the closing months of the season, has Inzaghi.
09:46Or he might be in again here.
09:48He was actually left out by Juventus a couple of times.
09:52He asked for a move from the club.
09:55It would appear that he'll now stay put.
09:57He's been short of goals for club and country.
10:00And he's been not short of critics during this championship.
10:03But he is the man who has given Italy clear breathing space in the match.
10:09Two goals in ten minutes from Totti and Inzaghi.
10:13And nobody asking where's Del Piero now.
10:17And I think if you look at the goals Romania have conceded in the tournament, you know.
10:21There's got to be a suggestion about their lack of pace.
10:24I mean, that's a lovely finish.
10:25He's still got to do points.
10:26Particularly if he's not on the goals.
10:28He hasn't scored for months.
10:29He took that well enough.
10:31But there's been a number of goals.
10:33Michael Owens, even Totti's first goal where he will in towards Moldovan.
10:38Turned out as far as Hattie.
10:41Raleigh was straight out tall though.
10:43And you would have bet on a better effort really from Gheorghe Hattie from that range.
10:48Romania really need a goal before half time too.
10:55Good game now.
10:57But livened up in that little spell.
10:59The first goal livened it up.
11:00And then one or two things happen at both ends.
11:04Scoring a little bit.
11:05Favourite.
11:05Mutu standing over the ball.
11:07Gheorghe is there too.
11:10He's actually hit by Mutu this time.
11:12Charged down by Fiore.
11:13Maybe the extra touch enable the wall to get out and close to Mutu.
11:18Despondent Romanian faces.
11:20Is this Italy's year?
11:22The ball certainly seems to be running for them.
11:26Two goals in the space of ten minutes from Totti and Inzaghi.
11:30Against the general drift of first half play.
11:33Romania hit the woodwork in between.
11:37Italy.
11:37And his place at left wing back has been taken by Gianluca Fasotto of Juventus.
11:45Who played there against Turkey in the opening game.
11:48And played in midfield against Sweden in the last match.
11:52There is the newcomer.
11:56Neither Albertini nor Conte at the heart of the midfield are real playmakers in the old-fashioned sense of the
12:02word either.
12:03No, they're just...
12:04Well, to use a phrase that's used in the game a bit.
12:07I don't know if Conte's a dead one now.
12:09I was going to say they just...
12:10They call them dogs of water.
12:11They're just dogs midfield workers.
12:12Oh, Haji's...
12:15A bit of experience in there.
12:17Maybe payback time a little bit.
12:19Yellow card for Haji.
12:21Just slapped him across the face, Conte there.
12:23He's just slapped Haji across the face.
12:24As he was lying down.
12:30Filipescu.
12:32Haji.
12:35Ganeer.
12:39He's Ganeer again.
12:41Haji's gone on.
12:41And he's found him now as he's pulled back.
12:44And the referee is going to yell at Kyle Haji.
12:47I think he's going to go here.
12:48He is.
12:51Referee felt he took a dive there.
12:52Now, Zambrotto is the defender.
12:55And Romania were convinced that he yanked Haji back by the shirt.
12:58But Gheorghe Haji has to walk.
13:02A moment of real drama.
13:03This could be the end of a fabulous international career at the highest level.
13:11One of the greats is being sent off here now.
13:14With justification or not, I'm sure we're going to see in a moment.
13:17I'll tell you what it was.
13:19It was a fabulous passing move.
13:21He's touched him.
13:22He has made a meal of it.
13:24But I thought the referee could have used some common sense to give him the sympathy vote then.
13:29When I saw the left arm go up, I was sure he got a handful of Haji's shirt.
13:33But he didn't really, did he?
13:34No.
13:34What it was, when it was unfortunate, that was a superb little piece of interpassing.
13:4535 years of age.
13:46Haji is 125th international appearance for Romania.
13:51He's equaled Peter Shilton's figure tonight.
13:53He's right up there in the top ten all time.
13:55And has played absolutely brilliant.
13:57I mean, the move that led up to it.
13:59He'd lent the ball in twice.
14:00He'd gone for a little give and go.
14:02I think it was off Ganea.
14:08Galko will take the free kick.
14:09Romania desperately need a break.
14:14Rolled in to Filippescu.
14:16He'll come for Chubatario.
14:17Who blocked that?
14:18Hit by Petrae.
14:20Well, it was goal bound, but it hit somebody, something, and stayed out.
14:28Well, that's quick thinking.
14:30A little flick through the legs, Chubatario.
14:31Great drink.
14:33I think it's a double ricochet on the line.
14:35Montiano takes the corner.
14:38He's a defender who just turned his back on it, wasn't it?
14:43Kivu.
14:45Caught by Albertini.
14:52I wonder whether the referees thought, well, hang on, I've been a bit harsh on Romania with
14:59the Hadji decision, because he certainly looks as if he's starting to give them a few decisions
15:03now.
15:03I mean, that looked eatable to me, that one.
15:09Romania won't let it go.
15:13Montiano takes.
15:15Turned away at the far post by Nesta.
15:18Now the free kick goes Italy as well.
15:24This was the one which was blocked.
15:34Down to ten men, following the dismissal of Giorgi Hacci.
15:37Italy ahead with first-half goals from Totti and Inzaghi.
15:42And here's another opportunity for Inzaghi.
15:45Found by Albertini.
15:46He's hit a post and it's come out.
15:47That's the first slice of luck, really, Romania have had tonight.
15:59Yeah, the ball's nudge forward.
16:01He looks almost offside, but Filippescu again in the right full-back position is playing
16:05in mind.
16:05He's pulled it down brilliantly.
16:07And that is awful, Van Lugge.
16:10It's a great effort.
16:22In towards Inzaghi.
16:25Feeding off Albertini again and getting in behind.
16:29Albertini's played more telling balls in this period than one in the last half hour.
16:33I think they've seen him for about five seasons.
16:35That's a great reverse ball.
16:37Nicely weighted.
16:38He's hit it in front of himself.
16:40Albertini could have taken this on and given himself a bit more control, a bit more composure.
16:45Having said that, he could have scored with his right foot, his left foot.
16:48He flicked up and headed it in.
16:51Ganea.
16:52Still they come forward, still Moutou looks to enhance his growing reputation.
17:04That's a slick move again.
17:06Maybe Wood should have done better with that.
17:09I would imagine there's a lot of, there's a very tired mind there.
17:12Been a big week for him.
17:36It's funny, you know, I saw, I was watching him against Sweden.
17:38I know it was very much a skeleton staff squad and I've seen a fair bit of Italy in the
17:44tournament.
17:45And my thoughts then were, if England have to play against them, which we were hoping for would have been
17:49the game today, they wouldn't have overbubbed me.
17:52I would have thought we'd have had a decent chance because of the way they play.
18:23It's all fantasy now, isn't it?
18:25Going around the block, going around the defender.
18:29The pass to Zambrano in the end was a disappointment.
18:32It's almost as if he lacks power.
18:33I mean, when he accelerated, then when he spun and accelerated, he thought, well, go on my side.
18:37But then all of a sudden it looks as if he didn't have the confidence to go away from him.
19:01And then he said, well, go on my side.
19:11Whistles ringing around the stadium.
19:15Final whistle now will be merciful for both teams.
19:19Italy can't stop winning.
19:22Four in a row.
19:23Fits and starts of form, really, but the ball rolled for them again tonight.
19:28Two goals in ten first half minutes from Totti and Inzaghi there.
19:33Romania lost their inspiration.
19:35Hadji to a red card in the second half.
19:37He bows out as Italy march on into Thursday's semi-final against Holland or Yugoslavia.
19:47Played four.
19:49One-four.
19:50Bella, Bella, Bella, Bella.
19:52There's Ali and Seri after this break.