|
Modena native Luca Toni, Giorgio Chiellini's screamer and an own goal gave Italy a 3-1 win over the Faroe Islands and top spot in Group B.
The Azzurri were already qualified thanks to their 2-1 win in Scotland, but needed a victory to be certain of first place in Group B ahead of France. Luca Toni was playing in his hometown of Modena, but Roberto Donadoni revolutionised the rest of the squad, including Raffaele Palladino's senior Italian international debut. The former Under-21 starlet was the 19th player to make his debut under Donadoni's reign.
Only three starters remained from Saturday's game in Glasgow - Fabio Cannavaro, earning his 113th cap to overtake Dino Zoff, Massimo Ambrosini and Toni.
Vincenzo Iaquinta was playing on his 28th birthday, but it was Simone Perrotta who had the first shot on goal. Toni cut back for the Roma midfielder and his low strike was charged down inside the area by some brave defending. Toni's assist for Iaquinta was too long, wasting an excellent scoring opportunity.
The deadlock was broken after 10 minutes, but no Italian was on the scoresheet. Massimo Oddo ran on to a smart Daniele De Rossi ball over the defence and his low cross for Toni was turned into his own net by Benjaminsen.
Christian Jacobsen ambitiously attempted to beat Marco Amelia from 40 metres, but it should have been 2-0 moments later. Toni's brilliant header from an Oddo free kick was fingertipped off the line by goalkeeper Mikkelsen.
Ambrosini nodded another Oddo set-piece over the bar, while Palladino was denied a debut goal by a double desperate save from point-blank range.
It was a siege on the Faroe Islands net, but Toni just failed to get on the end of Iaquinta's cutback as Roy Jacobsen risked another own goal. The visitors had their first opportunity on 34 minutes from a corner kick, but R Jacobsen was punished for a clear push on Cannavaro.
Toni finally doubled the Azzurri's tally in his hometown stadium. Fabio Grosso's cross from the left found him facing the wrong way, but the Bayern Munich giant hooked it with his right foot and spun round for the shot on the volley before it had hit the ground.
It was 3-0 in spectacular fashion as Juventus man Giorgio Chiellini unleashed an absolute screamer from over 20 metres that flashed across Mikkelsen and in at the far post. It was a cracking snapshot from the former Under-21 international.
R Jacobsen wasted a good chance to make the most of a rare Cannavaro distraction. There were no substitutions at half-time and Iaquinta turned a free header over from six yards, while a good Olsen free kick was not far off the crossbar.
Milan defender Daniele Bonera replaced captain Cannavaro, so the armband went to Perrotta, then Fabio Quagliarella came on for Ambrosini. Palladino flashed a shot wide from outside the box and Mikkelsen gathered another effort from the Juventus youngster.
Quagliarella earned a corner kick as Toni held up the ball for his deflected volley. Toni went very close to a second of the night as Oddo flicked up a pass through defenders and his close-range shot was fingertipped round the near post by Mikkelsen.
Toni finished his match in Modena and made way for Alberto Gilardino. The Azzurri seemed to ease off the gas and Jr Jacobsen was allowed a free header over the bar.
However, Quagliarella got his head on the end of an Oddo corner and was denied by a goalline clearance from substitute Thorleifson. The Udinese striker volleyed just wide, but it was flagged offside anyway.
Italy were clearly sitting back and trying to run out the clock, so a Faroe Islands goal was looking increasingly likely. R Jacobsen was left unmarked for a header under the bar from eight yards. He had also netted in the first meeting.
Palladino curled a right-foot drive past the far post from the edge of the area, but Davidsen's splendid header nearly caught Amelia napping.
| 
