New-look Italy shows promise
Source: Agencies |
August 12, 2010, Thursday
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IVORY Coast beat former world champion Italy 0-1 at a rainy Upton Park in London on Tuesday in a lively friendly from which both teams could take plenty of satisfaction.
The Ivorians scored with a powerful header from Kolo Toure after 55 minutes but Italy, under new coach Cesare Prandelli for the first time, showed lots of promise as it embarked on a fresh start after its dismal World Cup display.
"We knew it was hard to put a team together in two days (of training)," Prandelli told Rai television. "We've got to work calmly, with enthusiasm and desire. We have to continue to believe we are a great soccer nation. (Antonio) Cassano did well, (Mario) Balotelli did some interesting things."
Prandelli handed debuts to goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu, defenders Cristian Molinaro and Marco Motta and forwards Amauri and Balotelli.
Balotelli, who is being courted by Manchester City, went close early on with a powerful freekick and another rasping shot.
The striker made his presence felt and along with Cassano and Brazilian-born Amauri, who also went close with a first-half header, they kept the Ivorian defenders on their toes.
Balotelli, who could well be returning to West Ham's Upton Park ground later this season, went off after an hour, the first of a string of second-half substitutions.
Ivory Coast, which like Italy had a disappointing World Cup and also went out at the group stage, had plenty of familiar names in its starting lineup, including goalscorer Toure and brother and skipper Yaya who has just joined Manchester City from Barcelona for 24 million pounds.
Chelsea's Salomon Kalou and Arsenal's Emmanuel Eboue are also familiar visitors to Upton Park but it was Gervinho, who plays for Lille, who had Ivory Coast's best first-half chance, firing wide with only Sirigu to beat after a superb move after 16 minutes.
Italy right back Motta shot against the post early in the second half before Simone Pepe forced Daniel Yeboah into an acrobatic save soon after.
Despite the result, the constant drizzle and the early-season rustiness, Italy played with more zip than it did at the World Cup to give Prandelli reasons for optimism before it begins its Euro 2012 qualifying campaign next month.
The Ivorians scored with a powerful header from Kolo Toure after 55 minutes but Italy, under new coach Cesare Prandelli for the first time, showed lots of promise as it embarked on a fresh start after its dismal World Cup display.
"We knew it was hard to put a team together in two days (of training)," Prandelli told Rai television. "We've got to work calmly, with enthusiasm and desire. We have to continue to believe we are a great soccer nation. (Antonio) Cassano did well, (Mario) Balotelli did some interesting things."
Prandelli handed debuts to goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu, defenders Cristian Molinaro and Marco Motta and forwards Amauri and Balotelli.
Balotelli, who is being courted by Manchester City, went close early on with a powerful freekick and another rasping shot.
The striker made his presence felt and along with Cassano and Brazilian-born Amauri, who also went close with a first-half header, they kept the Ivorian defenders on their toes.
Balotelli, who could well be returning to West Ham's Upton Park ground later this season, went off after an hour, the first of a string of second-half substitutions.
Ivory Coast, which like Italy had a disappointing World Cup and also went out at the group stage, had plenty of familiar names in its starting lineup, including goalscorer Toure and brother and skipper Yaya who has just joined Manchester City from Barcelona for 24 million pounds.
Chelsea's Salomon Kalou and Arsenal's Emmanuel Eboue are also familiar visitors to Upton Park but it was Gervinho, who plays for Lille, who had Ivory Coast's best first-half chance, firing wide with only Sirigu to beat after a superb move after 16 minutes.
Italy right back Motta shot against the post early in the second half before Simone Pepe forced Daniel Yeboah into an acrobatic save soon after.
Despite the result, the constant drizzle and the early-season rustiness, Italy played with more zip than it did at the World Cup to give Prandelli reasons for optimism before it begins its Euro 2012 qualifying campaign next month.
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