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New boys Daniele De Rossi and Luca Toni recovered from a disastrous start to give Italy a confident opening win in the World Cup qualifiers.
Marcello Lippi's era began in earnest with this World Cup qualifier against Norway. The Coach was forced to do without the suspended Francesco Totti, while Antonio Cassano, Christian Vieri, Alessandro Del Piero and Fabio Cannavaro are injured.
This gave Olympics heroes Alberto Gilardino and Daniele De Rossi their senior international debuts and both were in the starting eleven. Fabrizio Miccoli replaced his former Juve teammate Del Piero upfront, while Gianluca Zambrotta was pushed forward on to the left flank.
The Sicilian crowd at the Stadio Renzo Barbera gave a passionate welcome to the team, singing so loudly to the national anthem that they drowned out the band. There was also a minute's silence for the victims of the terrorist acts in Russia.
It was an appalling start, as within 45 seconds of the starting whistle former Roma striker John Carew opened the scoring for Norway. The ball was lost in midfield and Marco Materazzi was too slow in closing down the giant Norwegian, allowing him to place an angled drive past Gianluigi Buffon.
The Azzurri fought back immediately and Miccoli's splendid half-volley brought a great save out of Johnsen.
But it was a debutante who drew level after just four minutes of play, as a Giuseppe Favalli low cross flew past everyone until Daniele De Rossi flicked it into the net with the outside of his right foot. The 21-year-old Roma midfielder almost retired from football in April after suffering from a recurring hernia problem, but marked his senior international debut with a well-taken strike.
Norweian midfielder Peter Rudi was booked after 12 minutes for a challenge from behind on the lively Miccoli. The new Fiorentina signing again tested goalkeeper Johnsen from close range, then his through ball found Stefano Fiore only for his shot to be blocked at the near post.
Italy were gradually increasing the pressure as the first half wore on and Fiore's long-range strike shook the side-netting. Moments later a series of disastrous defensive errors handed Giuseppe Favalli the ball on the six-yard box, but his cutback to Miccoli was intercepted.
The personal duel between Miccoli and Johnsen continued when the 'keeper flew to palm out his curling free kick with one hand, then Gennaro Gattuso's fierce drive from almost 20 metres was deflected on to the upright and Miccoli turned in the loose ball, but it was disallowed due to a correct offside decision.
Captain Alessandro Nesta performed a crucial challenge on Carew as he charged into the box, but Italy were dominating and at the other end a quiet Gilardino failed to make the most of a good opportunity as his first touch let him down. Zambrotta cut towards the centre and his low drive forced Johnsen into a tricky push round the post.
Norway were perhaps even more negative at the start of the second half, camping out entirely in their own half as the Azzurri passed the ball around in search of an opening.
On the hour mark Miccoli caught on to a fine Fiore pass and attempted to flick it over the goalkeeper, but Johnsen was able to charge him down. Soon after Fiore went for goal himself and his powerful angled drive was parried by the busy Norwegian goalkeeper.
Bernardo Corradi replaced a very quiet Gilardino, while Sampdoria's Aimo Diana took over from Favalli. This pushed Zambrotta back into his right-back role, moving Fiore over to the other flank.
Norway's first shot since the first minute came after 70 and Buffon got down well to parry Rudi's effort from a corner kick at the near post.
The Stadio Barbera went wild when Luca Toni was given his competitive debut in place of the increasingly tired Miccoli.
The Palermo forward made an immediate impact and within moments of coming on he nodded Fiore's pass across to Aimo Diana, but the Sampdoria man was unable to get a clean header on it, perhaps due to a push from behind by defender Johnsen. The linesman raised his flag for an Italian foul and play resumed with a Norwegian free kick.
The Scandinavians were a little more confident towards the end and Buffon jumped on to the feet of Rusveld, but the referee waved away more penalty appeals after Zambrotta appeared to be pushed to the ground as he tried to dribble round a defender. Then Diana's half-volley landed on the roof of the net from a tight angle.
Italy were dominating and eventually took the lead 11 minutes from time with local hero Luca Toni. Zambrotta's low pass set the striker running and he delicately redirected it through the goalkeeper's legs. Toni is a hero in Palermo after his 30 goals in Serie B last season and soaked up the praise of the home fans.
There was real enthusiasm in the Azzurri squad and Diana combined with Toni for the winger's fierce drive that whistled past the upright, but that late goal was enough to ensure a deserved victory.
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