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6 June 2007: Lithuania 0-2 Italy (Kaunas)
Two spectacular first-half goals from Fabio Quagliarella gave Italy a comfortable win in Lithuania as they remained second in Euro 2008 qualifying Group B.
Coach Roberto Donadoni made five changes from the team that narrowly beat the Faroe Islands on Saturday, with Quagliarella among those brought in, and the Sampdoria forward repaid that confidence with strikes on 31 and 45 minutes.With this victory, the world champions go into the summer two points behind France and one ahead of Scotland.
The Azzurri started in confident fashion and could have taken the lead early on when Filippo Inzaghi was just unable to get on to Andrea Pirlo's cross. Shortly after, Simone Perrotta tried his luck from long range but his effort went high over the bar.Midway through the first half, Antonio Di Natale failed to find the finishing touch to Pirlo's clever pass. Lithuania almost scored themselves when Mantas Savenas's strike from outside the area took a deflection and flew centimetres wide of Gianluigi Buffon's far post. Yet Italy finally scored as Quagliarella worked his way past Igoris Morinas before driving a left-foot shot from the edge of the box beyond the reach of keeper Paulius Grybauskas.
Although Buffon did well to keep out both Mindaugas Kalonas's close-range effort and Marius Stankevicius's bullet free-kick, it was the visitors who found the net again before the break. Quagliarella controlled the ball inside the area before sending in a low strike. It proved a hammer blow for Lithuania. Italy went on to control the second half with Di Natale going close to a third on 58 minutes, although they did survive a late scare when Tomas Danilevicius's set-piece flashed over.Italy welcome France for a World Cup final rematch on 8 September when fifth-placed Lithuania are in Scotland.
[Azzurri Reaction][Group B Fixtures & Tables]
Italy have published their schedules for the European Under-21's tournament in the Netherlands next week. The six-time European champions play their opening game against Serbia on June 11.
06/06/07 - Squad meet-up and take part in two training sessions in Coverciano, Florence at 9.30am & 5.30pm (UK Time).07/06/07 - Two training sessions in Coverciano (9.30am & 5.30pm).
08/06/07 - Training in Coverciano in the morning (9.30am), then flight from Florence to Dusseldorf (3pm). The squad will be based at the Bilderberg Hotel de Buunderkamp in Wolfheze.
09/06/07 - Two training sessions (9.30am & 4.30pm) in the Sports Centre in Papendal.
10/06/07 - Training session at 9.30am in the Sports Centre in Papendal. Training at the De Goffert Stadium in Nijmegen at 4.30pm.
11/06/07 - First Group B match against Serbia (7.45pm) at the Goffert Stadium in Nijmegen.
12/06/07 - Two training sessions (9.30am & 4.30pm) in the Sports Centre in Papendal.
13/06/07 - Training session at 9.30am in the Sports Centre in Papendal. Training at the Gelredome Stadium in Arnhem at 4.30pm.
14/06/07 - Second Group B match against England (7.45pm) at the Gelredome Stadium in Arnhem.
15/06/07 - Two training sessions (9.30am & 4.30pm) in the Sports Centre in Papendal.
16/06/07 - Training session at 9.30am in the Sports Centre in Papendal. Training at the Gelredome Stadium in Arnhem at 4.30pm.
17/06/07 - Third/Final Group B match against Czech Republic (7.45pm) at the Gelredome Stadium in Arnhem.
Rest of the schedule will be confirmed during the tournament.[U21 Euro 2007 Championship Finals Schedule]
Italy 0-2 Greece (Litochoro, Greece)Greece moved to the top of UEFA European Under-19 Championship Elite round Group 2 with one match to go thanks to victory against Italy.
While the Azzurrini had begun their campaign on Friday with a 5-2 defeat of Sweden, mini-tournament hosts Greece had been denied three points against Croatia due to a late equaliser. But Greece secured a maximum haul in Litochoro as Dimitrios Siovas gave them a 61st-minute lead and Kostas Mitroglou made sure 13 minutes later.As the other match in the group was drawn, Greece know they will qualify for next month's finals in Austria by beating Sweden here on Wednesday. Italy, a point behind, need to overcome Croatia and hope Greece fail to win.
Italy coach Roberto Donadoni has blamed poor finishing for only beating the Faroe Islands 2-1 in Torshavn tonight, a result that moves the Azzurri into second place in Group B.
"We knew that this team could cause us problems if we failed to capitalise on our scoring opportunities and that is what proved to be true," said Donadoni. "Had we converted only a small percentage of the chances we had, we would have comfortably won this match by four or more.
"We didn’t run any risks apart from that one incident. The Faroe Islands gained in confidence the longer the game went on without too many goals against them and scored with their only opportunity."
Filippo Inzaghi bagged a goal in each half, but Rogvi Jacobsen’s header made it a nervous finale for the world champions. "If you don’t make the most of your dominance, then you can run into problems eventually. We had a bright start in the opening 20 minutes and then the tempo dropped, perhaps because we thought it was all a bit too easy," continued Donadoni.
"Without pace you can’t really break through, but even then we had plenty of chances with Alessandro Del Piero and Cristiano Lucarelli. We won the match and could really have scored more."
Double goal scorer Filippo Inzaghi has thanked his teammates for helping him to continue his remarkable period of form. "We knew it wasn’t going to be as easy as some people suggested. We had a good start despite the cold, rain and very strong wind, but we got the points and that is the important thing," said the striker.
"In the first goal I thought the ball was beyond me, but thankfully I managed to get a touch. This is a great time for me and I must thank my teammates for doing everything they could to help me. Andrea Pirlo’s pass was studied at Milan."
Gianluigi Buffon had to pick the ball out of the net and make a crucial late save in the Faroe Islands, so he complimented the amateur squad. "My compliments to the carpenter. Aside from our mistakes, I think they scored an excellent goal with great technique. Of course for others to impress you tend to have to give them a helping hand," said the ‘keeper.
"It wasn’t so much a lack of concentration as the motivation and tension that was missing leading up to the game. We didn’t have that spark in the air. We played well in the opening 20 minutes and then rather sat back after the goal."
Captain Fabio Cannavaro is upset at conceding in the Faroe Islands, but says it was his own men’s fault for losing focus. "These things happen. Obviously it never makes you happy to concede a goal, but we created plenty of chances and everyone was pushing forward to find the third, but that was a mistake as we lost concentration at the back," noted the defender.
"Pippo is a guarantee! He is in good shape physically, psychologically and has rediscovered his eye for goal. I am happy for him. We got three important points tonight, are second in Group B and must look at the positive aspects."[Match Report]
2 June 2007: Faroe Islands 1-2 Italy (Torshavn)
Two Filippo Inzaghi goals earned Italy victory in Torshavn although the Faroe Islands' Rogvi Jacobsen had the honour of scoring to unsettle the world champions, who nevertheless moved second in Group B with this win.Undeterred by persistent rain, the Azzurri were ahead after just 12 minutes through Inzaghi. Playing in his first international game since October, the striker controlled Andrea Pirlo's long ball from the left with his right foot under pressure from Jon Roi Jacobsen before sweeping it past goalkeeper Jakup Mikkelsen with his left.
Tommaso Rocchi almost doubled the Italian advantage two minutes later but his shot was deflected over the crossbar. Jogvan Martin Olsen's side regained their composure but did little to trouble Gianluigi Buffon, while at the other end Inzaghi sent a diving header just wide before the interval.
Inzaghi doubled his tally for the evening four minutes after the break, meeting Aimo Diana's cross from the right touchline with a far-post header which gave Mikkelsen no chance.
The goalkeeper earned considerable credit four minutes later, however, pushing a dangerous Pirlo free-kick on to the post. Cristiano Lucarelli, who had replaced Inzaghi, then missed a great chance to make it 3-0 as he collected Diana's through-ball but shot wide with only Mikkelsen to beat.
The home side rallied with Jon Roi Jacobsen heading fractionally over from a Suni Olsen corner before Rogvi Jacobsen went one better, beating Buffon with a low header to his left from a right-wing cross with 13 minutes left.
Del Piero should have put the game beyond the home side in the 89th minute, scooping wide from inside the area. Christian Lamhauge Holst then thudded a shot against Buffon as the Faroe Islands threatened an unlikely comeback, although there was still time for Del Piero to fire another effort over.
Lithuania beat Georgia 1-0 earlier today, but as France saw off Ukraine 2-0 in Paris, Italy leap into second place in Group B on 13 points behind Les Bleus on 15.
The Faroe Islands are yet to win a point in Group B but will take heart from their performance as they prepare to play Scotland at home on Wednesday, while the Azzurri travel to Lithuania in the same day.
[Azzurri Reaction][Group B Fixtures & Tables]
Italy 5-2 Sweden (Katerini, Greece)Italy got their bid for a first appearance in the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in three years off to a fine start by twice coming from behind to score five against Sweden.
Sweden, who were eliminated by eventual winners Spain at this stage in last year's competition, were in front after just two minutes of their first Group 2 game in Katerini when Rasmus Elm found the net. The lead only lasted a minute before Paolo Carbonaro levelled but they soon found themselves behind again after Michael Almeback's goal midway through the half. Parity was restored before half-time however, when defender Denis Tonucci produced a second equaliser on 39 minutes.
If they had been behind for much of the first half, Italy turned things around after the break with three strikes that sealed three precious points. Parma midfielder Matteo Mandorlini, the son of former Internazionale player Andrea, gave Italy the lead for the first time on 58 minutes before Fernando Forestieri (87) and Michael Cia (90) extended the margin of victory.Italy will be hoping to build on the win when they meet mini-tournament hosts Greece on Sunday while Sweden next play Croatia the same day.
Group 1: Italy U21 4-0 Albania U21 (Pontedera)Pierluigi Casiraghi’s new Under-21 side got off to a glittering start to their Euro 2009 qualifying campaign, crushing Albania 4-0 in Group 1.
The Azzurrini began their two-year era while the ‘old’ squad is still preparing for the European Under-21 Championships in the Netherlands later this month.
Casiraghi fielded an all-attack 4-3-3 system at Pontedera’s Stadio Ettore Manucci with Giuseppe Rossi and Juventus starlet Sebastian Giovinco supporting Acquafresca.
The first goal for the next generation was netted by Treviso’s Robert Acquafresca, who got the final touch to Daniele Dessena’s cut-back from six yards. There were two desperate goalline clearances from the Albanians, but they could not stop a splendid strike from Dessena to make it 2-0. Genoa defender Domenico Criscito has made a name for himself in Serie B and will return to Juventus next season. He sealed the 3-0 going into half-time with a fortunate angled drive that squirmed under the body of the Albanian goalkeeper. Xhevair Sukaj’s shot off target was really the visitors’ only attempt in a first half that was utterly dominated by the Azzurrini.
Giovinco shone in his role supporting the centre-forward and brought a tough save out of Samir Ujkani straight after the restart, as well as firing just over and setting up several good chances. The fourth goal arrived eight minutes from time and once again Juve jewel Giovinco was involved. His assist sparked a classic counter-attack for Fiorentina’s new signing Arturo Lupoli.
Only in the final moments did Albania go anywhere close to troubling Andrea Consigli with a Gilman Lika free kick and deflected effort from the same player.The result leaves the Azzurrini top of Group 1 but its still early days.
Casiraghi can now lead the five-time European champions to the 2007 Finals which begin on June 10, 2007 in the Netherlands.GROUP 1 RESULTS:Croatia U21 2-0 Faroe Islands U21 (02/06/2007)
Greece U21 4-1 Azerbaijan U21 (02/06/2007)
Croatia U21 3-2 Greece U21 (06/06/2007)
Albania U21 1-0 Faroe Islands U21 (06/06/2007)GROUP 1 TABLE & FIXTURES:[Click Here!]
Italy coach Roberto Donadoni will have to do without injured duo Gianluca Zambrotta and Massimo Ambrosini for Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifier at Faroe Islands.
Zambrotta, the Barcelona full-back, sustained a minor knee injury during training on Thursday while Milan midfielder Ambrosini has been unable to recover from a problematic thigh.
Both players will not travel with the World Cup winners to the Faroe Islands but Donadoni is hopeful of recovering both players in time for Wednesday's qualifier against Lithuania in Kaunas.
The World champions are currently two points behind Group B leaders Ukraine, France and Scotland.[Azzurri squad to face Faroe Islands & Lithuania]
After helping Parma avoid relegation during a six-month loan from Manchester United, striker Giuseppe Rossi has been included in Pierluigi Casiraghi's Italy squad for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in the Netherlands.
However, fellow forward Nicola Pozzi, whose five goals pushed Empoli towards UEFA Cup qualification, failed to make the cut.
Rossi, 20, scored nine goals in 19 Serie A games after joining Parma in January, following a less successful loan to Newcastle United.
Giampaolo Pazzini, Raffaele Palladino and Graziano Pelle complete the list of attackers.
Meanwhile, Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani and Cagliari defender Michele Canini did enough in the last weeks of the Serie A season to convince Casiraghi they have overcome the serious injuries that marred their campaigns.[U-21 Euro 2007 Championship Finals Schedule]
Italy squad
Goalkeepers: Gianluca Curci (Roma), Andrea Consigli (Sambenedettese), Emiliano Viviano (Brescia).
Defenders: Marco Andreolli (Inter), Michele Canini (Cagliari), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Andrea Coda (Udinese), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Andrea Mantovani (Chievo), Alessandro Potenza (Fiorentina), Andrea Raggi (Empoli).
Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (Roma), Luca Cigarini (Parma), Daniele Dessena (Parma), Andrea Lazzari (Piacenza), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Antonio Nocerino (Piacenza), Simone Padoin (Vicenza), Alessandro Rosina (Torino).Forwards: Raffaele Palladino (Juventus), Giampaolo Pazzini (Fiorentina), Graziano Pelle (Cesena), Giuseppe Rossi (Parma).England squadGoalkeepers: Ben Alnwick (Tottenham Hotspur), Scott Carson (Liverpool), Joe Hart (Manchester City).
Defenders: Leighton Baines (Wigan Athletic), Gary Cahill (Aston Villa), Anton Ferdinand (West Ham United), Justin Hoyte (Arsenal), Nedum Onuoha (Manchester City), Liam Rosenior (Fulham), Steven Taylor (Newcastle United), Peter Whittingham (Cardiff City).
Midfielders: David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham Hotspur), James Milner (Newcastle United), Mark Noble (West Ham United), Nigel Reo-Coker (West Ham United), Kieran Richardson (Manchester United), Wayne Routledge (Tottenham Hotspur).Forwards: Matt Derbyshire (Blackburn Rovers), Leroy Lita (Reading), David Nugent (Preston North End), James Vaughan (Everton), Ashley Young (Aston Villa).Serbia squadGoalkeepers: Damir Kahriman (Vojvodina), Igor Stefanovic (Zemun), Aleksandar Kesic (Mladost Apatin).
Defenders: Nemanja Rnic (Partizan), Branislav Ivanovic (Lokomotiv Moskva), Dusko Tosic (Sochaux), Gojko Kacar (Vojvodina), Aleksandar Kolarov (Beograd), Nikola Petkovic (Vojvodina), Slobodan Rajkovic (Beograd), Antonio Rukavina (Partizan), Dusan Basta (Crvena Zvezda).
Midfielders: Milos Krasic (CSKA Moskva), Nikola Drincic (Amkar Perm), Bosko Jankovic (Mallorca), Zoran Tosic (Banat Zrenjanin), Milan Smiljanic (Partizan), Djordje Ivelja (Beograd), Predrag Pavlovic (Napredak Krusevac), Dejan Milovanovic (Crvena Zvezda), Stefan Babovic (Beograd).
Forwards: Djordje Rakic (Beograd), Dragan Mrdja (Lierse).Czech Republic squadGoalkeepers: Josef Kubasek (Banik Sokolov), Milan Svenger (Zenit Caslav), Zdenek Zlamal (Zlin).
Defenders: Roman Hubnik (Moskva), Michal Kadlec (Sparta Praha), Josef Kaufman (Teplice), Jiri Kladrubsky (Dynamo Ceske Budejovice), Martin Klein (Teplice), Milan Kopic (Mlada Boleslav), Martin Latka (Slavia Praha).
Midfielders: Tomas Jirsak (Teplice), Frantisek Rajtoral (Baník Ostrava), Mario Holek (Brno), Lubos Husek (Sparta Praha), Daniel Pudil (Slovan Liberec), Michal Svec (Slavia Praha), Daniel Kolar (Sparta Praha).
Forwards: Jan Blazek (Slovan Liberec), Martin Fillo (Viktoria Plzen), Jan Holenda (Dynamo Ceske Budejovice), Michal Papadopulos (Bayer Leverkusen), Jan Kysela (Mlada Boleslav), Tomas Krbecek (Viktoria Plzen).
Having scored twice in the Champions League final, Milan striker Filippo Inzaghi has been recalled to the Italy squad for the first time since October ahead of the Euro 2008 qualifiers against the Faroe Islands and Lithuania.
The 33-year-old has registered 22 goals in 53 games for the Azzurri but has not played for his country since the 2-0 win against Ukraine on 7 October.Coach Roberto Donadoni has also rewarded forwards Cristiano Lucarelli and Tommaso Rocchi, who boast 20 and 16 Serie A goals for Livorno and Lazio respectively this season, with call-ups into his 23-man squad while 25-year-old defender Alessandro Gamberini, whose Fiorentina side had the best defensive record in Serie A, is the only uncapped player involved.Italy are fourth in Group B with ten points from five matches, two behind France, Ukraine and Scotland. They play the Faroes in Torshavn on 2 June before travelling to Kaunas to meet Lithuania four days later.
The squad will meet at the Coverciano training camp in Florence on Tuesday morning for two days of training, before travelling to the Faroe Islands on Thursday afternoon.
The Azzurri will return to Italy after Saturday’s match and will train in Milan before flying to Lithuania on June 5.
Italy Squad:
Goalkeepers: Christian Abbiati (Torino), Marco Amelia (Livorno), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus).
Defenders: Andrea Barzagli (Palermo), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina), Marco Materazzi (Inter), Massimo Oddo (Milan), Manuel Pasqual (Fiorentina), Max Tonetto (Roma), Gianluca Zambrotta (Barcelona).
Midfielders: Massimo Ambrosini (Milan), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Aimo Diana (Palermo), Gennaro Gattuso (Milan), Simone Perrotta (Roma), Andrea Pirlo (Milan).
Forwards: Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Filippo Inzaghi (Milan), Cristiano Lucarelli (Livorno), Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Tommaso Rocchi (Lazio).Group B Fixtures:Saturday 2 June 2007Faroes Islands v ItalyLithuania v GeorgiaFrance v UkraineWednesday 6 June 2007France v GeorgiaLithuania v ItalyFaroe Islands v Scotland
Italian Under-21 boss Pierluigi Casiraghi has named his squad for their opening Euro 2009 qualifier with Albania.
The youngsters will begin their campaign in Pontedera on June 1 in a group which also consists of Croatia, Greece, Azerbaijan and the Faroe Islands.
The 2009 Finals will be hosted by Sweden, who qualify automatically, while the 10 group winners and four best second-placed sides will qualify for the play-offs set for October 2008.
Casiraghi therefore has to start a new cycle with players born after January 1, 1986 and will meet the squad on Tuesday for a three-day training camp.
Parma and Juventus are the most represented clubs with three players each, followed by Treviso with two.
The Azzurrini have also qualified for the final phase of this year’s tournament, which will take place from June 10 to June 23 in the Netherlands. Casiraghi has named a preliminary squad of 30 players, which will be cut to 23 by May 30. Italy play their first match on June 11 against Serbia and will then play England and the Czech Republic on June 14 and 17.
Squad for Albania:Goalkeepers: Consigli (Sambenedettese), Sirigu (Palermo).
Defenders: Belmonte (Bari), Bocchetti (Frosinone), Criscito (Genoa), Marzoratti (Empoli), Motta (Udinese), Rickler (Chievo), M. Rossi (Modena).
Midfielders: Cigarini (Parma), Candreva (Ternana), De Ceglie (Juventus), De Martino (Udinese), Dessena (Parma), Marchisio (Juventus), Paonessa (Vicenza), Russotto (Treviso).
Forwards: Acquafresca (Treviso), Giovinco (Juventus), Lupoli (Derby County), G. Rossi (Parma).
