Italy needed only a draw from this game to be sure of qualifying for the 2002 World Cup as Romania were breathing down their necks, but the 1-0 victory booked their spot in style. The Parma crowd insulted Alessandro Del Piero after he wasted a few early chances, aiming chants calling for Roberto Baggio’s return to the Azzurri at the Juventus Number 10. However, it was Del Piero who scored the winner with a stunning free kick from the edge of the box and his joy at this confidence-boosting goal was evident.
Injuries meant that former Juventus teammates Del Piero and Filippo Inzaghi resumed their partnership while Marco Materazzi replaced Alessandro Nesta in central defence. ‘Keeper Kiraly made reaction saves on Inzaghi and Francesco Totti while a Del Piero solo effort was blocked by the defence. Hungary remained dangerous on the counter-attack and with a curling Lisztes free kick, so Giovanni Trapattoni took off a clearly disappointed Del Piero in order to bolster the midfield. It failed to curb the visitors’ as Italy relaxed into their lead and allowed the Hungarians to come forward. Gianluigi Buffon was forced to make two saves on Dardai’s efforts while substitute Istvan Ferenczi fired their clearest chance inches over the bar.
Georgia held Romania to a 1-1 draw in Bucharest so Italy would have qualified whatever the result tonight. Romania enter a play-off with Slovenia.
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Italy: Buffon; Cannavaro, Materazzi, Maldini; Zambrotta (Di Livio 79), Tommasi, Albertini (Di Biagio 72), Coco; Totti, Inzaghi, Del Piero (Gattuso 57)
Hungary: Kiraly; Bodnar, Juhar, Matyus, Kuttor; Z Peto, Sebok, Dardai, Miryuta (Lisztes 54); Kabat (Ferenczi 65), Tokoli (Egressy 77)
Ref: Chavez (PAR)
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