Italy have moved back into a qualifying spot for the European Championships after a 2-0 victory over Georgia. Goals from Andrea Pirlo and Fabio Grosso ensured the much-needed three points, even if the Azzurri didn’t totally convince throughout the 90 minutes.

Italy went into the Genoa clash knowing that only victory would do after Scotland beat the Ukraine 3-1 and France hammered the Faroes 6-0 earlier in the day. With that in mind, Donadoni went bravely on the attack despite the loss of Vincenzo Iaquinta to the flu and the absence of the suspended Fabio Cannavaro and the injured Marco Materazzi at the back.

Andrea Barzagli and Christian Panucci – winning his 50th cap – were chosen as the central defenders in front of captain Gigi Buffon. Grosso won the race with Giorgio Chiellini for the left-back role given the injury to Gianluca Zambrotta, Massimo Ambrosini started in midfield while Fabio Quagliarella came in for Iaquinta.

The first half belonged to the Azzurri even if they did struggle to convert their possession and superior technical quality into chances. The visitors played reasonably well in the opening 20 minutes and restricted Donadoni’s boys to just three chances.

On five minutes a Massimo Ambrosini cross caused panic in the box but was cleared, before Quagliarella and Antonio Di Natale threatened. Yet it wasn’t until minute 27 when Italy really got the crowd going. Some fantastic footwork from Di Natale saw him make space for a cross which Luca Toni headed against the post.

It was an assault on the Georgian goal from that moment. Soon after Toni again went close as another header from a Pirlo free-kick sailed just over. Then it was Di Natale who should have given Italy the advantage. Georgia failed to clear the ball and the Udinese star’s volley from close range incredibly went over.

However, the world champions did get the goal they arguably deserved with the help of some bizarre goalkeeping. A Pirlo free-kick didn’t look that dangerous, but the ‘keeper lost sight of the ball and it rippled the net for the Milan man’s sixth international goal. He nearly netted his seventh 60 seconds later, but this time the custodian palmed the ball over the bar.

Donadoni made no changes at the break, perhaps understandably so as the defence was pretty much untroubled while the trio of Milan midfielders were pressing and tackling well. The only real disappointment of the opening 45 minutes was arguably Quagliarella.

Nevertheless, the former Livorno tactician wouldn’t have been that pleased with the way his side started the second half. Georgia’s renewed pressing was causing the Azzurri problems as a confused Italy struggled to impose themselves. So much so that the only real chance for the home side for a while after the break was a deflected Grosso shot from outside of the area.

Nothing was really happening for Italy in the attacking third and after a Di Natale effort, Donadoni brought on Pasquale Foggia for Quagliarella. The Cagliari right-winger became the 13th man to make his international debut under Donadoni.

Foggia instantly got into the game and his 73rd minute cross was just diverted away from the boot of Toni. The big Bayern Munich hitman then went close from the resulting corner when his header wasn’t held by Lomaia.

The second half was nothing to shout about and the game looked to be heading to a 1-0 conclusion until Italy finally made the game safe with a second. Toni played in Grosso with a perfect assist and the 2006 World Cup hero delightfully chipped the ball over the onrushing ‘keeper to make it 2-0.

Italy move back into second place in Group B and will now be hoping that Georgia will do them a favour against Scotland on Wednesday. If not then Italy will have no choice but to go to Glasgow on November 17 and come home with nothing less than three points…

Italy: Buffon; Oddo, Barzagli, Panucci, Grosso; Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini (Mauri 87); Quagliarella (Foggia 71), Toni, Di Natale

Georgia: Lomaia; Khizanshvili, Salukvadze, Asatiani, Shashasvili (Kenia 61); Tskitishvili, Menteshashvili, Kvirkvelia, Kankava; Demetradze, Mchedlidze (Siradze 61)

Ref: Devila (Spa)