U21 Euro 2007: Nocerino raises the flame for Azzurrini

The conference centre that backs on to the Papendal training ground in Arnhem which Italy have used as their base at the European Under-21 Championship today hosted the 'Beijing Olympic Experience', and from the early stages of the Olympic Games play-off in Nijmegen there was a sense of inevitability around the Azzurrini's victory.

Portugal gave as good as they got but despite playing against ten men for over 40 minutes they could find no way through and, with Graziano Pelle drawing applause from the attendant Louis van Gaal with a cheeky chip in the penalty shoot-out that followed, Italy prevailed.

There are many myths about how the ancient Olympic Games were created, the most popular being that Heracles built the Olympic stadium in honour of his father Zeus. Heracles, renowned for his ingenuity, strength and courage, would have been pleased with both teams' early endeavour, typified by the performance of Antonio Nocerino shielding the Italy back line.

A powerful, imposing figure, the Piacenza midfielder bears little physical resemblance to the most famous exponent of his role, Claude Makelele, but the speed with which his shirt became drenched in sweat bore testament to great industry.

In Brazil they call the Makelele position the volante (rudder), but while Nocerino was steering the Azzurrini, providing midfield impetus, there was little forward thrust, little ingenuity. That was mainly coming from Portugal, and led by Nani and Manuel Fernandes, Jose Couceiro's team always looked capable of conjuring something. First Nani whipped in a dangerous ball to the near post before Fernandes found the head of Ricardo Vaz Te with a pinpoint cross but the finishing touch was lacking. The pair were forcing the play, with the Benfica youngster catching the eye when he tracked back to dispossess Alessandro Rosina though he, in turn, was robbed by the omnipotent Nocerino.

A trio of Italy players spent much of the pre-match warm-up skilfully juggling the ball between them, but Nocerino had not been one of them. The 22-year-old was forced to wait almost 100 appearances before recording his first league goal and is hardly renowned for his attacking prowess, though he almost fashioned the opener moments before half-time when his ball sent Giuseppe Rossi through, only for Paulo Ribeiro to deny the striker.

The game ebbed and flowed before the Manchester United forward was thrust back into the limelight 16 minutes from time, handed a second yellow card for dissent which placed the Azzurrini's aspirations of a 15th Olympic campaign in the balance.

The dismissal should have been the cue for Nocerino to become even more involved but the ball was bypassing midfield and it fell to Giorgio Chiellini to take centre stage, anticipating the play, dominating aerial battles and putting his body on the line. He ended the first period of extra time sporting a huge bandage after being caught by the boot of Nani.

Italy were indebted to good fortune when Joao Moutinho's goal-bound header inadvertently struck Domenico Criscito before Yannick Djalo missed the chance of the game, firing over with the goal gaping. Antunes missed the decisive penalty in the resultant shoot-out as Italy secured a 4-3 win, begun by the outrageous effort by Pelle. Finally, ingenuity to match the strength and courage.

[U21 Euro 2007 Championship Finals Schedule]