U21 Euro 2007: Chiellini counts cost of missed chances

Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini bemoaned his side's profligacy after the five-time European winners opened their 2007 finals campaign in lacklustre fashion with a 1-0 defeat against Serbia in Nijmegen.

Pierluigi Casiraghi's side carved out four glorious opportunities at the Goffert Stadium with Raffaele Palladino and Giampaolo Pazzini particularly culpable, both failing to hit the target when unmarked in front of goal.

"We created three or four great chances, controlled the game and definitely deserved better luck, so we have to be truly disappointed," Chiellini said after Dejan Milovanovic's blistering 63rd-minute drive had given Serbia the points. "Even after Serbia scored we fought back well and, although they defended really well, [Pazzini] had the chance to level the game in the final minute but again we didn't make the best use of it."

When asked to pinpoint the reason his side had suffered an unexpected defeat, the Juventus left-back said: "Serbia scored with their only real chance while our major problem was that we were unable to take the chances we had created. We were clear on the Serbia goalkeeper on several occasions but the ball just didn't want to go in. They didn't have that many chances and that was the big difference between the two sides - they scored and we didn't. That's all that really matters. And give Serbia credit, they played well and have a lot of good players. They'll give other teams problems. I said before the match they were dark horses in this tournament and I hope we can get through with them. Now we know what we have to do."

With England and the Czech Republic playing out a 0-0 draw in Monday's other opening Group B game, the Azzurrini's second match, against England in Arnhem on Thursday, takes on even more importance. "Obviously we can't afford to lose against England now - we have to go out to win that game and we'll give everything to do that," Chiellini said. "We don't feel as if we're out of the tournament just yet. We know we are strong, we just need to stop thinking too much and focus on doing our best. We are still sure of our abilities. We've lost the first game but even then we've proved we have the quality to get to the semi-finals."

[U21 Euro 2007 Championship Finals Schedule]