Italy learn little by beating weak Belgium
1 of 3. Italy's Christian Panucci controls the ball against Belgium during their friendly match at Artemio Franchi stadium in Florence May 30, 2008.
Credit: Reuters/Stefano Rellandini
FLORENCE, Italy |
FLORENCE, Italy (Reuters) - Italy head to Euro 2008 in confident mood but learned little from their 3-1 win over Belgium in a friendly on Friday.
Italy coach Roberto Donadoni tried to take positives from the game but by organising just one friendly in the run-up to the finals in Austria and Switzerland he has reduced his options for experimentation.
Against Belgium, who failed to qualify for next month's tournament, Donadoni went for his favoured three-pronged attack in the first half.
In the second he tried out a 4-3-1-2 with Alessandro Del Piero and a disappointing Luca Toni playing infront of the recalled Antonio Cassano, whose appearance was cheered by a spartan Florence crowd.
A half was not enough to judge the system, especially given a raft of substitutions that interrupted the flow of the game.
"Now I have another possibility," he told reporters about the formation, while also bemoaning some of the play.
"There was a bit too much naivety."
Antonio Di Natale's opening two goals told Donadoni nothing more, given his obvious admiration for the Udinese forward, but handing Alberto Aquilani a start in midfield paid some dividends.
Italy travel to their base outside Vienna on Monday with their first match against the Netherlands on June 9 in Berne.
(Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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