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Italy 3-1 Portugal (Zurich, Switzerland)
Italy were in authoritative mood in Zurich where goals from Luca Toni, Fabio Cannavaro and Fabio Quagliarella saw the World champions ease to victory against Portugal.
Having won nine of their last ten Euro 2008 qualifiers, the Azzurri looked determined to continue that run at the Letzigrund Stadium and although Andrea Pirlo had an early effort controversially ruled out for handball, they were in control once Toni capitalised to score after Ricardo had misjudged a cross.
The goalkeeper could do nothing about the second goal soon after half-time when Cannavaro deflected in Pirlo's shot, and while Ricardo Quaresma revived Portuguese hopes 13 minutes from time, Quagliarella soon restored the two-goal cushion.
An Italy victory had appeared on the cards right from kick off when Pirlo saw his long-range effort scrubbed out, yet Bruno Alves should have given Portugal the lead midway through the first half but contrived to head over from close range.
It was a warning for Italy, and one that was noted as Roberto Donadoni's team upped the ante. Ricardo made a fine save to deny Antonio Di Natale following good work from Raffaele Palladino, but was culpable on the cusp of half-time when he failed to hold a Fabio Grosso cross and Toni pounced.
Ricardo made amends five minutes after the interval when he kept out Toni, yet any relief was fleeting and 60 seconds later it was 2-0 as Pirlo's right-footed shot deflected off Cannavaro and past the keeper.
It was all Italy and Ricardo was at full length to tip Palladino's volley on to the crossbar, although Portugal found a way back into the game when Quaresma fired in. A minute later, order was restored as Quagliarella, who had just replaced Palladino, volleyed in from close range.
Italy will face another Iberian test next month when they travel to Elche to play Spain on March 26.
[Match Report] - [Azzurri Reaction] - [Euro 2008 Rivals]
Source: UEFA
Friendly: Italy U21 2-1 Netherlands U21 (Ferrara)
Goals from Daniel Pablo Osvaldo and Giuseppe Rossi gave Italy victory against European Under-21 champions the Netherlands at the Stadio Paolo Mazza in Ferrara.
Both teams qualified for the Olympic football tournament last summer and used this friendly as preparation for next August's Games in Beijing.
The visitors enjoyed more of the possession but it was the Azzurrini that showed the greater cutting edge.
Pierluigi Casiraghi's side went into half-time in front after Rossi fed Osvaldo on the break and the Fiorentina striker fired past the on-rushing Piet Velthuizen in the Dutch goal.
Rossi added the second after the restart when his shot was deflected by Henrico Drost beyond Velthuizen.
Royston Drenthe pulled one back 15 minutes from time, but Ryan Donk's dismissal soon after effectively ended Dutch hopes.
The Under-23 tournament at the Olympics begin on August 6. The draw will be made on April 20 in Beijing.
Source: UEFA
Genoa striker Marco Borriello is the new face in Italy's 20-man squad for the friendly game against Portugal in Zurich on Wednesday, while goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was not included after missing the last three games with Juventus due to a back injury.
The 25-year-old Borriello, whose playing license is partially owned by AC Milan, has scored 12 goals in 18 Serie A games this season for Genoa.
Luca Toni, Antonio Di Natale, Fabio Quagliarella and Raffaele Palladino complete the attacking options while there is no space for Alessandro Del Piero and Antonio Cassano.
Inter defender Marco Materazzi and Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani return in the squad after recovering from their respective injuries, while Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso misses out after suffering a thigh injury earlier this week.
Meanwhile coach Roberto Donadoni has called Livorno's Marco Amelia and Sevilla's Morgan De Sanctis to cover Buffon's absence.
The Azzurri will come together in Milan for training on Monday afternoon and fly to the Swiss capital for Wednesday’s match at the Letzigrund Stadium, which kicks-off at 1945 UK time (+1hr for Italy/Switzerland).
The World champions will face France, the Netherlands and Romania in Group C at this summer's UEFA Euro 2008 finals in Switzerland and Austria.
Italy squad
Goalkeepers: Marco Amelia (Livorno) & Morgan De Sanctis (Sevilla).
Defenders: Andrea Barzagli (Palermo), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Marco Cassetti (Roma), Fabio Grosso (Lyon), Marco Materazzi (Inter), Massimo Oddo (Milan) & Gianluca Zambrotta (Barcelona).
Midfielders: Massimo Ambrosini (Milan), Alberto Aquilani (Roma), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Simone Perrotta (Roma), Andrea Pirlo (Milan) & Franco Semioli (Fiorentina).
Forwards: Marco Borriello (Genoa), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Raffaele Palladino (Juventus), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese) & Luca Toni (Bayern Munich).
Portugal squad
Goalkeepers: Quim (Benfica), Ricardo (Real Betis) & Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon).
Defenders: Bruno Alves (Porto), Fernando Meira (Stuttgart), Jorge Ribeiro (Boavista), Bosingwa (Porto), Marco Caneira (Valencia), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea) & Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea).
Midfielders: Deco (Barcelona), Petit (Benfica), Maniche (Inter), Raul Meireles (Porto) & Nani (Manchester United).
Forwards: Ariza Makukula (Marítimo), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Nuno Gomes (Benfica) & Ricardo Quaresma (Porto).
Source: UEFA
Siena pair Luca Rossettini and Daniele Galloppa have earned call-ups to Pierluigi Casiraghi’s Azzurrini squad to face the Netherlands in a friendly next week.
Italy’s Under-21 side are moving comfortably towards qualification for the 2009 UEFA European Championships in Sweden - sitting top of qualifying Group 1.
Casiraghi will test his side out against the current European champions in Ferrara on Tuesday night, ahead of next month’s crucial trip to Azerbaijan.
Following that qualifier, the Azzurrini will be preparing for the Under-23 football tournament at the Beijing Olympic Games - which takes place in August, before concluding their qualifying campaign against Greece and Croatia in September.
Only four of the members of the side that took part in last year's European Championship finals are named in the latest squad – Brescia goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano, Udinese defender Andrea Coda and midfielders Riccardo Montolivo of Fiorentina and Antonio Nocerino from Juventus.
Siena midfielder Galloppa has earned a return to the international fold with his recent impressive performances in Serie A and will be joined by teammate Rossettini, who makes his debut.
The squad will gather on Sunday evening after their weekend games and will have their first training session in Spal on Monday.
The squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Andrea Consigli (Rimini), Emiliano Viviano (Brescia).
Defenders: Andrea Coda (Udinese), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Paolo De Ceglie (Siena), Lino Marzoratti (Empoli), Marco Motta (Torino), Luca Rossettini (Siena), Marco Rossi (Parma).
Midfielders: Luca Cigarini (Parma), Daniele Galloppa (Siena), Sebastian Giovinco (Empoli), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Piermario Morosini (Vicenza), Antonio Nocerino (Juventus), Andrea Russotto (Treviso).
Attackers: Alessio Cerci (Pisa), Pablo Daniel Osvaldo (Fiorentina), Nicola Pozzi (Empoli), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal).
Source: C4 Football Italia
