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Mexico beats Italy 2-1 in World Cup warmup
Source: Agencies |
June 4, 2010, Friday
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CARLOS Vela and Alberto Medina exposed a slow, ragged Italy defense to give Mexico a 2-1 victory over the World Cup-holder yesterday in a major boost ahead of next week's opening match of the tournament.
Vela took a high pass from Giovani Dos Santos in the center and without any serious challenge was able to line up a drive from 12 meters out that gave goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon no chance in the 16th minute.
Ten minutes from time substitute Medina beat Italy's offside trap, and from a tight right angle beat Buffon with a drive.
Italy pulled one back in the 89th when defender Leonardo Bonucci scored from close range after Salvatore Bocchetti hit the post.
In Italy's first warmup game for the World Cup, the Azzurri looked sluggish for long periods and were mostly running after the ball instead of dictating play before 30,000 mostly Italian fans at King Baudouin Stadium.
The Azzurri have been training at high altitude in the Italian Alps, and coach Marcello Lippi attributed the disappointing performance to a lack of fitness.
"We've been up in the mountains for 10 days. We arrived here this morning and we were up against a team in much better form than us - you can't analyze this game based on anything else," Lippi said. "The players told me their legs felt very heavy."
The Azzurri's best chance came in the third minute when Vincenzo Iaquinta forced a great one-handed save from Mexico goalkeeper Oscar Perez off the crossbar.
After losses to England and the Netherlands over the past two weeks, Mexico had its most promising outing ahead of next Friday's opener against South Africa at Soccer City.
Lippi had attached a lot of importance to the game since Italy opens its Group F campaign on June 14 against Paraguay, which is expected to play much like Mexico.
It bode ill. Fabio Cannavaro, 36 already, and the inexperienced Bonucci were often hesitant at the heart of the defense against the agile Vela and Javier Hernandez. And up front, Italy's lone striker Alberto Gilardino only rarely forced the composed Mexicans into action.
While it is the defending champion, Italy is widely considered too old and without any top new players to be a credible title contender. Mexico, meanwhile, is vying to advance from Group A where it faces France, Uruguay and host South Africa.
Having played against three top European nations, Mexico finally showed some poise, with youthful promise up front and staunch defense led by Barcelona stalwart Rafael Marquez.
"It is never easy against a team like Italy. This gives us comfort," said Mexico coach Javier Aguirre. "The result is less important than what we showed. Now people are serene and confident. The ball is running well for us."
Italy faces Switzerland in Geneva on Saturday in its final friendly before flying to South Africa.
Besides Paraguay, Italy will also face New Zealand and Slovakia in Group F.
"The important thing is to be in form 10 days from now," Lippi said.
Vela took a high pass from Giovani Dos Santos in the center and without any serious challenge was able to line up a drive from 12 meters out that gave goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon no chance in the 16th minute.
Ten minutes from time substitute Medina beat Italy's offside trap, and from a tight right angle beat Buffon with a drive.
Italy pulled one back in the 89th when defender Leonardo Bonucci scored from close range after Salvatore Bocchetti hit the post.
In Italy's first warmup game for the World Cup, the Azzurri looked sluggish for long periods and were mostly running after the ball instead of dictating play before 30,000 mostly Italian fans at King Baudouin Stadium.
The Azzurri have been training at high altitude in the Italian Alps, and coach Marcello Lippi attributed the disappointing performance to a lack of fitness.
"We've been up in the mountains for 10 days. We arrived here this morning and we were up against a team in much better form than us - you can't analyze this game based on anything else," Lippi said. "The players told me their legs felt very heavy."
The Azzurri's best chance came in the third minute when Vincenzo Iaquinta forced a great one-handed save from Mexico goalkeeper Oscar Perez off the crossbar.
After losses to England and the Netherlands over the past two weeks, Mexico had its most promising outing ahead of next Friday's opener against South Africa at Soccer City.
Lippi had attached a lot of importance to the game since Italy opens its Group F campaign on June 14 against Paraguay, which is expected to play much like Mexico.
It bode ill. Fabio Cannavaro, 36 already, and the inexperienced Bonucci were often hesitant at the heart of the defense against the agile Vela and Javier Hernandez. And up front, Italy's lone striker Alberto Gilardino only rarely forced the composed Mexicans into action.
While it is the defending champion, Italy is widely considered too old and without any top new players to be a credible title contender. Mexico, meanwhile, is vying to advance from Group A where it faces France, Uruguay and host South Africa.
Having played against three top European nations, Mexico finally showed some poise, with youthful promise up front and staunch defense led by Barcelona stalwart Rafael Marquez.
"It is never easy against a team like Italy. This gives us comfort," said Mexico coach Javier Aguirre. "The result is less important than what we showed. Now people are serene and confident. The ball is running well for us."
Italy faces Switzerland in Geneva on Saturday in its final friendly before flying to South Africa.
Besides Paraguay, Italy will also face New Zealand and Slovakia in Group F.
"The important thing is to be in form 10 days from now," Lippi said.
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