2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship

[Jager]

The guy who disappointed was Rossi and the rest of the strikers. They had service all day, and did nothing. Unacceptable.

They should of started Pelle. But what do I know.

Rossi has been getting too much good press and it has gone to the coaches heads.

[Forza_Roma]

FT 2-2 England did well the final minutes to keep Italy away from the ball.

[Forza_Roma]

Almost out...

U-21 European Championships, Group B, 14/06/07

Italy 2-2 England
Nugent 24 (E), Lita 26 (E), Chiellini 36 (I), Aquilani 69 (I)
Arnhem, Holland

Italy bravely came back from two down to rescue a point against England – but their Under-21 European Championship campaign hangs in the balance! The Italians went into the Arnhem clash knowing that only a victory would really do, but the pre-tournament favourites were held to a 2-2 draw. Now Italy need to beat the Czech Republic on Sunday and hope for the best…

Despite losing their opening match 1-0 to Serbia on Monday, boss Gigi Casiraghi kept faith with the same starting XI – even if goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano was given the gloves due to the injury sustained by Gianluca Curci.

Things didn’t start well for Casiraghi’s babies and although Riccardo Montolivo tried his luck after just two minutes, the peninsula boys looked unrecognisable in the opening half hour where it seemed as if they were playing themselves out of the competition.

There is no doubt that this Italian side is full of technically gifted youngsters, but there was little evidence of that in the early stages. Italy struggled to keep hold of the ball and there was a lack of cohesion between defence and midfield.

England dominated the early exchanges and only a fine Viviano save kept out a Taylor header on 10 minutes. But the Italian net-minder was in for an uncomfortable night and Leroy Lita should have scored twice for England in the space of a minute.

The striker incredibly failed to give his side the lead when he rounded the ‘keeper but fired wide, before he took advantage of a Viviano clanger only to strike the bar from close range. However, an England goal wasn’t that far away…

Stuart Pearce’s boys went one up in minute 24 when David Nugent headed in from close range – and things went from bad to worse for Italy when England scored again within 120 seconds. This time an Ashley Young cross was slotted home by Lita.

Facing an early exit, the Italian youngsters finally awoke to end the period strongly and amazingly still in the game. Alberto Aquilani worried the English with a wonderful free-kick that sailed just over, before Italy made it 2-1. Giorgio Chiellini managed to scramble the ball home after a touch from Raffaele Palladino.

That goal came in minute 36 and minute 37 saw Italy almost level things up. Giampaolo Pazzini, who netted a hat-trick in this year’s 3-3 friendly at Wembley, brought the best out of goalkeeper Scott Carson.

Clearly unhappy with what he was watching, Casiraghi brought on Marco Motta – for the struggling Andrea Raggi – and Giuseppe Rossi during the interval. The latter settled into the game instantly and he had three efforts on goal in the first 10 minutes of the second half as the Azzurrini went in search of an equaliser.

England were looking pretty comfortable at the back, though, especially as Italy’s questionable finishing continued. Pazzini had already wasted a great opportunity in injury time of the Serbia defeat and he again failed with his head on the hour mark, when the Fiorentina youngster headed over from a favourable position.

Alessandro Rosina and Nigel Reo-Coker then exchanged efforts before Italy’s pressure finally paid off as they made it 2-2 in the 69th minute. Alberto Aquilani, thanks to a Rosina assist, was the Italian celebrating after his strike from distance saw the ball settle in the bottom left corner.

Possession was almost exclusively with the Azzurri and their movement was good as Rosina went desperately close to making it 3-2, even if Young – England’s most dangerous man in the second period – then almost did the same at the other end within 60 seconds.

The game was now on a knife-edge as Italy knew that a draw was still not a great result for them – despite being two down at one stage. Firmly being in the driving seat, they went on looking for a third and it was Antonio Nocerino who went within inches of giving his side the lead in minute 85.

Rossi had the last effort of the night for Casiraghi's youngsters but it wasn’t enough. Italy must now defeat the Czech Republic at the weekend and hope that England don’t do the same against Serbia, who are already through to the last four, at the same time.

Italy: Viviano; Raggi (Motta 46), Andreolli, Mantovani (Criscito 59), Chiellini; Aquilani, Nocerino, Montolivo; Rosina; Palladino (Rossi 46), Pazzini

England: Carson; Hoyte, Taylor, Onuhoa, Baines; Milner, R Coker (Richardson 90), Noble, Young; Nugent (Whittingham 69), Lita (Vaughan 84)

Ref: Skomina (Slo)

channel4.com - Football Italia

[sinoy1]

Originally Posted by Jager

The guy who disappointed was Rossi and the rest of the strikers. They had service all day, and did nothing. Unacceptable.

They should of started Pelle. But what do I know.

Rossi has been getting too much good press and it has gone to the coaches heads.

I disagree. I think his confidence is a bit low since he didnt start the past 2 games. He was certainly better then Palladino and created and held up the ball better. Pazzini was being closely marked by 2 giant defenders. While Rosina's flaw is that he doesnt pass the ball as much as he should. His finishing should be better as well.

They should call Virga next time....he's another amazing kid that Roma produced. Watch out for him in the near future.

[Jager]

No, they should play Graziano Pelle, he would of buried one of those Rossi chances.

Regardless if its confidence or that he is not in form, he is not playing well, he was the wrong sub to bring on.

Finishing let us down, I would like to see the stats on the game, and the amount of shots we had, and ball possession???

[sinoy1]

What was the possesion?

[sinoy1]

I dont like Pelle...he's to one dimensional i think. Pazzani is fine alone in the box. Rossi and Rosina are excellent players to play off of.

[Forza_Roma]

Italy had 30 shots and Eng had 15!!! We should of got the win!

[Jager]

That is exactly what you need mate. You have a team that controls the ball, you need a guy that can do one thing, and that is bury rebounds, shots, headers, etc......

The team might be too "creative"......looks very good for the seniors and Serie A in general, but not good for this tournament, but this is my opinion.

[Forza_Roma]

Clubs Statistics
England		Italy
2	Goals scored	2
5	Yellow card	2
0	Red card	0
9	Shots on goal	7
6	Shots wide	14
22	Fouls committed	13
6	Corners	7
2	Offsides	0
20' 31''	Ball. Poss. (time)	28' 46''
41%	Ball. Poss. (%)	59%

The stats I've got read 31 shots and 58% possession - shocking.

England got raped but somehow came away with a point and a major advantage going into the final game, that to me is unacceptable.

Now we have to beat the Czech Republic and hope Serbia hold England.

[Jager]

I think we are done mate. Serbia is through, so I can't see the impotence in beating this English side.

I have seen this all before, looks a lot like the Senior campaign of a few years ago.

I read somewhere about the third placed teams qualifying for the next WC or something, so there's at least some incentive there to do well.

But yeah, it's not looking good as far as qualifying for the semis is concerned. The only hope we have is a 0-0 draw in the other game, if there's one thing Serbia know how to do it's defend.

Italy Under-21 boss Gigi Casiraghi has conceded that the 2-2 draw with England was not the scoreline he was hoping for in last night’s European Championship tie.

“It was a bad result,” noted the inexperienced tactician after the Group B match. “We started badly from all points of view.”

The Azzurrini fought back from two goals down to keep their slim hopes of qualification for the last four alive, but their fate is no longer in their own hands.

“We conceded two goals and made several mistakes – even if I admit that it could have been worse when you consider how things started,” added Casiraghi.

“However, we played excellently in the second half where it was a totally different game and we could have won had we been more composed.

“We tried hard until the end, both teams played tough, but our physical condition wasn’t perfect. It was really very hot inside the stadium and it wasn’t easy to come back.

“In any case the lads did a good job. We still have a match to play although unfortunately things will not depend only on us now.”

Italy will now need to beat the Czech Republic on Sunday and hope that Serbia, who are already through to the semi-finals, don’t lose to the English.

Giuseppe Rossi, who was thrown on at half-time with his side 2-1 down last night, insisted that the Azzurrini deserved the three points after their problematic start.

“We were not that lucky in the game,” said the Manchester United man. “We were very slow in the first 20 minutes, but we then did well and could have won.

“We gave it our best until the very end, but unfortunately the strikers were unable to score,” added the youngster who highlighted the fact that the goals came via defender Giorgio Chiellini and midfielder Alberto Aquilani.

“Now we face a crucial match with the Czech Republic where we will have to win and hope in the outcome of Serbia-England. We’ll just do our best!”

channel4.com - Football Italia