Azzurri: Lippi recalls Blasi (2 Viewers)
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Italy 1 - 0 Slovenia
Zaccardo 78 (I)
Stadio Barbera, Palermo
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A diving header from Palermo defender Cristian Zaccardo saw off Slovenia and booked Italy's ticket for the 2006 World Cup.
The Azzurri needed just one point against Slovenia to be certain of qualifying for the 2006 tournament in Germany and fielded a strong front three of Francesco Totti, Luca Toni and Alberto Gilardino. Toni stepped back into the Stadio Barbera for the first time since his summer departure from Palermo and was given a frosty welcome with boos from a section of the crowd every time he touched the ball.
The crowd was more geared towards local hero Fabio Grosso, whose inclusion at left-back switched Gianluca Zambrotta over to the right for a very attacking formation.
Slovenia had been the only side to beat Italy in this qualifying Group, earning a 1-0 victory on October 9, 2004. Gilardino had the first chance after three minutes, running onto a wonderful first touch Totti pass from midfield, but the goalkeeper rushed out to close him down.
Soon after, Gennaro Gattuso's shot was smothered and Mavric got it under control before Toni could pounce on the loose ball. There was also a close call for Slovenia, as an Acimovic free kick shook the side-netting at the near post.
The Azzurri thought they had broken through on 18 minutes when Toni was at full stretch to meet Gilardino's low cross, but the 'keeper performed a good point-blank save to deny the Fiorentina striker.
Totti went for goal with a snapshot from 20 metres that shaved the upright, but the Roma captain was fortunate not to receive a yellow card for a late challenge on Zlogar. Totti was booked soon after for another mistimed tackle, this time on Rodic.
A touched-on free kick for Totti was deflected past the post and Toni sprung the offside trap only to slice wide. Totti deposited the ball into the net, although the move had already been halted for offside - a debatable decision according to the replays.
Another Italy goal was disallowed moments later, as the referee claimed - again, controversially - that Grosso's cross had already gone out of play before Toni nodded it back into the path of Gilardino.
Gattuso was also booked on the stroke of half-time for a late challenge on Pakorn. There was time for another great chance, as Totti's header on Grosso's cross was plucked out of the air by Mavric.
There was crowd trouble during half-time with the police intervening in the Slovenian end of the Sicilian stadium. The visitors made a substitution, introducing former Lecce striker Sebastjan Cimirotic.
Toni had a couple of early chances after the restart, but in both instances slipped at the crucial moment and the opportunity went begging. Totti's effort was also held comfortably.
Slovenia also had a goal disallowed, although this time the player was clearly in an offside position when he nodded in from seven yards.
The jeers of his former fans were perhaps getting to Toni, who blazed a great Totti pass horribly wide from eight yards. Andrea Pirlo had a long-range strike off target after combining with the active Totti and then his volley was well saved.
Lippi introduced another Palermo player, Cristian Zaccardo, for Gilardino after an hour of play, switching to a 4-4-2 system with Zambrotta pushing up and Totti and Toni in attack.
Toni kept getting closer to the goal that would silence his Palermo boo boys, as his glancing header was spectacularly tipped over the bar by Mavric.
The deadlock was eventually broken by local hero Zaccardo after 78 minutes. The substitute came in with a diving header at the far post to nod in Palermo teammate Grosso's centre. It was an important moment for Zaccardo, who had made costly errors in previous internationals against Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.
Soon after, Totti's header was just wide of the upright from a Zambrotta cross and substitute Daniele De Rossi, on for Pirlo, drilled off target. Toni was given a final round of insults as he left the field to be replaced by Christian Vieri for the last couple of minutes.
The Milan hitman had a great chance to make it 2-0 in stoppages when he ran on to Totti's pass, but he drilled wide under pressure from defenders. Moments later he sprung the offside trap and accidentally dragged the ball too far with his second touch, unable to turn into an empty net.
source: channel4.com
Zaccardo 78 (I)
Stadio Barbera, Palermo
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A diving header from Palermo defender Cristian Zaccardo saw off Slovenia and booked Italy's ticket for the 2006 World Cup.
The Azzurri needed just one point against Slovenia to be certain of qualifying for the 2006 tournament in Germany and fielded a strong front three of Francesco Totti, Luca Toni and Alberto Gilardino. Toni stepped back into the Stadio Barbera for the first time since his summer departure from Palermo and was given a frosty welcome with boos from a section of the crowd every time he touched the ball.
The crowd was more geared towards local hero Fabio Grosso, whose inclusion at left-back switched Gianluca Zambrotta over to the right for a very attacking formation.
Slovenia had been the only side to beat Italy in this qualifying Group, earning a 1-0 victory on October 9, 2004. Gilardino had the first chance after three minutes, running onto a wonderful first touch Totti pass from midfield, but the goalkeeper rushed out to close him down.
Soon after, Gennaro Gattuso's shot was smothered and Mavric got it under control before Toni could pounce on the loose ball. There was also a close call for Slovenia, as an Acimovic free kick shook the side-netting at the near post.
The Azzurri thought they had broken through on 18 minutes when Toni was at full stretch to meet Gilardino's low cross, but the 'keeper performed a good point-blank save to deny the Fiorentina striker.
Totti went for goal with a snapshot from 20 metres that shaved the upright, but the Roma captain was fortunate not to receive a yellow card for a late challenge on Zlogar. Totti was booked soon after for another mistimed tackle, this time on Rodic.
A touched-on free kick for Totti was deflected past the post and Toni sprung the offside trap only to slice wide. Totti deposited the ball into the net, although the move had already been halted for offside - a debatable decision according to the replays.
Another Italy goal was disallowed moments later, as the referee claimed - again, controversially - that Grosso's cross had already gone out of play before Toni nodded it back into the path of Gilardino.
Gattuso was also booked on the stroke of half-time for a late challenge on Pakorn. There was time for another great chance, as Totti's header on Grosso's cross was plucked out of the air by Mavric.
There was crowd trouble during half-time with the police intervening in the Slovenian end of the Sicilian stadium. The visitors made a substitution, introducing former Lecce striker Sebastjan Cimirotic.
Toni had a couple of early chances after the restart, but in both instances slipped at the crucial moment and the opportunity went begging. Totti's effort was also held comfortably.
Slovenia also had a goal disallowed, although this time the player was clearly in an offside position when he nodded in from seven yards.
The jeers of his former fans were perhaps getting to Toni, who blazed a great Totti pass horribly wide from eight yards. Andrea Pirlo had a long-range strike off target after combining with the active Totti and then his volley was well saved.
Lippi introduced another Palermo player, Cristian Zaccardo, for Gilardino after an hour of play, switching to a 4-4-2 system with Zambrotta pushing up and Totti and Toni in attack.
Toni kept getting closer to the goal that would silence his Palermo boo boys, as his glancing header was spectacularly tipped over the bar by Mavric.
The deadlock was eventually broken by local hero Zaccardo after 78 minutes. The substitute came in with a diving header at the far post to nod in Palermo teammate Grosso's centre. It was an important moment for Zaccardo, who had made costly errors in previous internationals against Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.
Soon after, Totti's header was just wide of the upright from a Zambrotta cross and substitute Daniele De Rossi, on for Pirlo, drilled off target. Toni was given a final round of insults as he left the field to be replaced by Christian Vieri for the last couple of minutes.
The Milan hitman had a great chance to make it 2-0 in stoppages when he ran on to Totti's pass, but he drilled wide under pressure from defenders. Moments later he sprung the offside trap and accidentally dragged the ball too far with his second touch, unable to turn into an empty net.
source: channel4.com
++ [ originally posted by Zizou ] ++
Those pics look gay
Stuart - If we leave Vieri ou then why not substitute him with Bonazzoli (same style of player). He's been doing quite well and can actually score goals.
Those pics look gay
Stuart - If we leave Vieri ou then why not substitute him with Bonazzoli (same style of player). He's been doing quite well and can actually score goals.