|
Luca Toni's brace gave Italy a sorely needed 2-0 victory in the crunch Euro 2008 qualifier with Scotland in Bari and Fabio Quagliarella got his debut.
The Azzurri knew anything less than a victory would make it incredibly difficult to reach Euro 2008, as even with a win they'd remain in fourth place following Ukraine's win over Lithuania. Roberto Donadoni opted to bench Andrea Pirlo and go with a 4-2-3-1 system. Udinese's Antonio Di Natale was the only non-World Cup winner in the starting XI and Gianluigi Buffon was able to play after recovering from a stomach bug.
Scotland manager Alex McLeish only made his debut last Saturday with a 2-1 qualifying result against Georgia. He packed the midfield at the Stadio San Nicola, giving Scott Brown his first start in place of striker Kris Boyd.
Luca Toni had the first chance after 90 seconds, as he ran on to Daniele De Rossi's assist and had his shot charged down by Stephen McManus. The Fiorentina forward then nodded a Massimo Oddo free kick wide. Marco Materazzi's set-piece was deflected out for a corner off the defensive wall and Toni swung a header wide, although he was also offside, as Italy poured forward in the opening minutes. The Azzurri finally broke through on 12 minutes, as Toni was brought down by a high McManus tackle. From the resulting Oddo free kick Toni found space on the edge of the six-yard box for a precise header at the near post. A fine move was turned from defence into attack from Oddo's backheel at the byline and a Simone Perrotta run, but Toni's pass for Di Natale in the area was intercepted. Toni was terrorising the Scotland defence and earning a multitude of free kicks, but Oddo tried to surprise Craig Gordon and fired straight at him. Materazzi did well to close down Kenny Miller and his acrobatic attempt from the corner was offside. Mauro Camoranesi wasted a good chance with a late cross that caught Toni offside on the counter. Buffon had his first save on 33 minutes, as a poor clearance was intercepted and the long-range Lee McCulloch strike was comfortably smothered. McCulloch had penalty appeals for an unlikely Fabio Cannavaro contact, then Di Natale's lob was too weak to trouble Gordon. There was panic in stoppages, as Miller got down the right flank and his cutback went past both Oddo and Weir. The move continued and Miller's glancing header was off target under pressure from Cannavaro. Di Natale had an excellent opportunity to double Italy's advantage after the restart when he ran on to Camoranesi's assist, but Gordon performed a fine save to nudge his toe-poke off target from eight yards. The Udinese player really should've done better moments later. Toni's pass sent Di Natale clear through the centre, but once again he fired straight at Gordon's foot. Camoranesi's bobbling effort was easily controlled, then Toni's glancing header flashed across the face of goal from Oddo's cross. Zambrotta's centre eventually ricocheted to Toni, whose scuffed effort landed on Gordon's chest. The first substitutions were made after the hour mark, as Alessandro Del Piero replaced the wasteful Di Natale for his 81st cap and Scott Maloney came on for Teale. A delightful back heel from the Juventus star set Zambrotta running in a promising move cut short by the Scots. Gennaro Gattuso brilliantly battled to win back the ball in midfield and spark the counter that Camoranesi crossed for Toni's cushioned header from four yards. Andrea Pirlo came on for Perrotta, who had been a doubt with a muscular injury, and Scotland introduced second striker Boyd. Oddo's strike flashed across the face of goal and Del Piero asked too much of himself when running at four defenders through the middle. Pirlo smashed over from distance.
Fabio Quagliarella was given his international debut in the final minutes for goal hero Toni, who was given a standing ovation by the San Nicola supporters.
| 
