Following the disappointment of the Swiss and German teams tonight, Swiss residents from various locales had the chance to resurrect their belief systems in the guise of both Italy and France. Unfortunately for those involved, both failed to kick-start their Euro2008 campaigns. Going into next week’s game, a re-match of the World Cup Final lest we forget, both sides will be sitting on a cumulative two points with 8 goals conceded between them.
Via methods unbeknown to Michele Platini and other UEFA honchos, and at the risk of exposing my Jason Bourne methods of infiltration, I can only now confirm that I didn’t have to watch the Italy/Romania match on television. From a high vantage point I was able to sample the atmosphere from the get-go as both sides produced much more attacking promise than their opening games had suggested.
I don’t fear Italian fans, but it certainly felt dangerous to celebrate Adrian Mutu’s opening goal. The Latinos are an emotive bunch and at the very least you can expect palms to be outstretched in your general direction and cries of what I can only assume were “mamma mia” if you dared to go against them. In one of those saucy stories that football often throws up, it was Fiorentina’s Mutu who scored past Juve’s Buffon, following a mistake from the soon-to-be Milan’s Zambrotta.
Despite an inspired performance from Lobont, Italy scored almost immediately after as they had threatened to do all game. What was surprising was that the goal came from Christian Panucci. Having been excused for being denied any decent service in the first game due to poor tactics, Luca Toni was just poor today. Whenever Pirlo moved forward, Romania sat back deep and that should have allowed someone of Toni’s calibre to wreak havoc inside the box.
Adrian Mutu’s penalty following a seemingly dubious decision (which I have yet to see since) held the interesting paradox of being poorly struck and superbly saved. Buffon celebrated as if he had just won a knockout tie, which in many ways it was.
Alas, yet again I was left somewhat devoid of emotion following the match. Italian friends were inconsolable and Romanians jubilant, and all I had was the France/Holland match to which to look forward. The Dutch were regal but it the result was perhaps not so surprising.
Whilst Italy had their chances against Holland last week, France were generally week today. Dropping Benzema for Thierry Henry seemed to make all the difference, making the team seem over-the-hill. The likes of Thuram, Gallas, Sagnol, Makelele and Henry didn’t seem to have the desire to dig their heels in against an increasingly impressive Dutch side. Despite three goal margins in both matches so far, I can’t help but think the French are a doomed side.
