U-21 Euro 2007 (11 Viewers)
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When look at the chances, Serbia was better in the second half, they were more concrete. Italy was really bad tonight, Pazzini should be substituted a long time ago, he made like thousand fouls in attack and missed unmisseble. Rosina hade a few good runs, but he played for himself not the team. Aquilani I didn't know he exist and Raggi struggled at the right side. Chiellini was solid but he can't cross the ball. Palla dissapeared in the second half. All in all Italy didn't seemed like a team to me, they had no team play and that's why they lost. Like I said in previous posts they needed to score soon as they can or there will be problem and it happened. Serbia didn't showed much cuz they were on the defensie whole time, but they are extremly dangereus on the counter attack and they used that.
Thought Pazzini was very poor and Palla was unlucky to be subbed rather than him.
Chiellini just doesn't seem like a full back to me. Sure he is fast but he can't beat players, he can't cross and his passing is poor. The sooner we convert him to a CB the better.
Palla should've kept playing, I thought he played much better than Pazzini, who had 2 great chances, and missed them both. About Chiellini, I think he just had an off game today. He's usually better in that position.
U-21 European Championships, Group B, 11/06/07
Italy 0-1 Serbia
Milovanovic 63 (S)
Nijmegen, Holland
Italy’s Under-21 European Championship campaign has got off to the worst possible start following a 1-0 defeat to Serbia. Kicking off the tournament in Nijmegen as one of the favourites, some poor finishing saw the Azzurrini pay the ultimate penalty after conceding just after the hour mark. It’s a long way to the semi-finals from here…
Gigi Casiraghi opted for his standard 4-1-4-1 formation as his side started their Holland 2007 adventure. Antonio Nocerino was asked to defend the back four, leaving Riccardo Montolivo and Alberto Aquilani to create in the middle. Fiorentina ace Giampaolo Pazzini was fielded as the lone striker, with the support of Raffaele Palladino and Alessandro Rosina.
Despite naming such an attacking line-up, the Azzurrini had great respect for a Serbia side which included the odd gem. Bosko Jankovic is a player to be watched as the 23-year-old has scored nine Liga goals for Mallorca this term. Babovic and Krasic are also highly-rated by European scouts, even if the latter lasted for just 32 minutes because of injury.
A confident Serbia started well against a slightly cautious Italian outfit, even if the latter were unlucky not to be given the chance to take the lead on seven minutes. Pazzini found himself with just the 'keeper to beat but was stopped by an offside flag which should probably not have been lifted.
The Viola hitman wasn’t denied by the officials soon after but by his own finishing. Having been served an assist by Aquilani from the right, the Atalanta youth team product fired wide from a central position inside the penalty area.
It wasn’t all one-way traffic though as Serbia caused a scare in the 15th minute. A Jankovic drive looked to have beat Curci even if it also just whizzed past the wrong side of the post. It was a let off for the young Roman 'keeper who was soon to be replaced by Brescia’s Emiliano Viviano because of a probable groin problem.
That was a blow for Italy but the five-time European champions ended the opening period strongly with some decent efforts. Montolivo was the next man to try his luck from distance which forced Kahriman into a save.
Although Italy allowed Serbia control of the ball for large periods, the peninsula boys were becoming increasingly dangerous on the break. It was that ploy which led to their best effort of the first period, in minute 31, when Pazzini failed to put his side 1-0 up from a decent position inside the box.
Italy’s wasteful finishing continued just before the interval. This time it was Palladino who was the culprit as the Juventus ace fired his angled drive two metres past Kahriman’s left-hand post – even if the 'keeper also got the slightest of touches to the ball.
There were no changes at the break even if things did seem to alter on the pitch as it was Serbia who looked far more dangerous at the restart.
Smiljanic and first half substitute Tosic tested the reactions of Viviano before the young custodian was beaten in some style in minute 63. It was Dejan Milovanovic – a survivor from the 2004 Final defeat to Italy – who rippled the net from 25 yards with a low drive after the ball fell to him via a Giorgio Chiellini tackle. It was virtually Serbia’s first serious effort at goal!
Italy wasted no time in going forward looking for an equaliser as Aquilani headed over the bar, before Italy wasted an indirect free-kick in the area as Montolivo fired his shot into the wall. However, Serbia threatened to make it 2-0 as Viviano kept out Milovanovic while Zoran Tosic headed against the outside of the post from the resulting corner.
With time running out, Casiraghi threw on Giuseppe Rossi. His goals kept Parma in the top flight last season, could he now save his Azzurrini side from defeat? Seemingly not alone as the Coach then went for broke by bringing on Graziano Pelle’ in the 82nd minute. Both changes made little difference as Serbia held on for a 1-0 win – also thanks to a slack Pazzini header in injury time which sailed over the bar.
Italy will now play England on Thursday in a game that they really need to win. Serbia will go up against the Czech Republic on the same evening after their 0-0 draw with the English earlier tonight.
Italy: Curci (Viviano 22); Raggi, Andreolli, Mantovani, Chiellini; Nocerino; Rosina, Montolivo, Aquilani (Pelle’ 82), Palladino (Rossi 74); Pazzini
Serbia: Kahriman; Rukavina, Ivanovic, D Tosic, Kolarov; Smiljanic, Milovanovic; Jankovic, Babovic (Drincic 77), Krasic (Z Tosic 34); Mrdja (Rakic 83)
Ref: Lannoy (Fra)
Italy 0-1 Serbia
Milovanovic 63 (S)
Nijmegen, Holland
Italy’s Under-21 European Championship campaign has got off to the worst possible start following a 1-0 defeat to Serbia. Kicking off the tournament in Nijmegen as one of the favourites, some poor finishing saw the Azzurrini pay the ultimate penalty after conceding just after the hour mark. It’s a long way to the semi-finals from here…
Gigi Casiraghi opted for his standard 4-1-4-1 formation as his side started their Holland 2007 adventure. Antonio Nocerino was asked to defend the back four, leaving Riccardo Montolivo and Alberto Aquilani to create in the middle. Fiorentina ace Giampaolo Pazzini was fielded as the lone striker, with the support of Raffaele Palladino and Alessandro Rosina.
Despite naming such an attacking line-up, the Azzurrini had great respect for a Serbia side which included the odd gem. Bosko Jankovic is a player to be watched as the 23-year-old has scored nine Liga goals for Mallorca this term. Babovic and Krasic are also highly-rated by European scouts, even if the latter lasted for just 32 minutes because of injury.
A confident Serbia started well against a slightly cautious Italian outfit, even if the latter were unlucky not to be given the chance to take the lead on seven minutes. Pazzini found himself with just the 'keeper to beat but was stopped by an offside flag which should probably not have been lifted.
The Viola hitman wasn’t denied by the officials soon after but by his own finishing. Having been served an assist by Aquilani from the right, the Atalanta youth team product fired wide from a central position inside the penalty area.
It wasn’t all one-way traffic though as Serbia caused a scare in the 15th minute. A Jankovic drive looked to have beat Curci even if it also just whizzed past the wrong side of the post. It was a let off for the young Roman 'keeper who was soon to be replaced by Brescia’s Emiliano Viviano because of a probable groin problem.
That was a blow for Italy but the five-time European champions ended the opening period strongly with some decent efforts. Montolivo was the next man to try his luck from distance which forced Kahriman into a save.
Although Italy allowed Serbia control of the ball for large periods, the peninsula boys were becoming increasingly dangerous on the break. It was that ploy which led to their best effort of the first period, in minute 31, when Pazzini failed to put his side 1-0 up from a decent position inside the box.
Italy’s wasteful finishing continued just before the interval. This time it was Palladino who was the culprit as the Juventus ace fired his angled drive two metres past Kahriman’s left-hand post – even if the 'keeper also got the slightest of touches to the ball.
There were no changes at the break even if things did seem to alter on the pitch as it was Serbia who looked far more dangerous at the restart.
Smiljanic and first half substitute Tosic tested the reactions of Viviano before the young custodian was beaten in some style in minute 63. It was Dejan Milovanovic – a survivor from the 2004 Final defeat to Italy – who rippled the net from 25 yards with a low drive after the ball fell to him via a Giorgio Chiellini tackle. It was virtually Serbia’s first serious effort at goal!
Italy wasted no time in going forward looking for an equaliser as Aquilani headed over the bar, before Italy wasted an indirect free-kick in the area as Montolivo fired his shot into the wall. However, Serbia threatened to make it 2-0 as Viviano kept out Milovanovic while Zoran Tosic headed against the outside of the post from the resulting corner.
With time running out, Casiraghi threw on Giuseppe Rossi. His goals kept Parma in the top flight last season, could he now save his Azzurrini side from defeat? Seemingly not alone as the Coach then went for broke by bringing on Graziano Pelle’ in the 82nd minute. Both changes made little difference as Serbia held on for a 1-0 win – also thanks to a slack Pazzini header in injury time which sailed over the bar.
Italy will now play England on Thursday in a game that they really need to win. Serbia will go up against the Czech Republic on the same evening after their 0-0 draw with the English earlier tonight.
Italy: Curci (Viviano 22); Raggi, Andreolli, Mantovani, Chiellini; Nocerino; Rosina, Montolivo, Aquilani (Pelle’ 82), Palladino (Rossi 74); Pazzini
Serbia: Kahriman; Rukavina, Ivanovic, D Tosic, Kolarov; Smiljanic, Milovanovic; Jankovic, Babovic (Drincic 77), Krasic (Z Tosic 34); Mrdja (Rakic 83)
Ref: Lannoy (Fra)
I felt that Palla tried his best but was starting to get frustrated that he was off target.
I felt that Giorgio's booking was unfair. He went for the ball:he played the ball! That should not have been not a booking to me.
I felt that Giorgio's booking was unfair. He went for the ball:he played the ball! That should not have been not a booking to me.
i guess italy were abit unluck yot lose but serbia read the game right and managed to drag the italains up front and there goal was played with complete accuaracy. there defense handled italy very well and closed all the spaces for them to move freely hence take advantage of there chances.
