Italy get psychological boost ahead of Euro 2000

February 23, 2000
Reuters

PALERMO, Italy - An 80th minute penalty from Alessandro Del Piero gave Italy a 1-0 win over Euro 2000 rivals Sweden in a disappointing friendly on Wednesday. Sweden goalkeeper Magnus Hedman brought down Francesco Totti inside the area and striker Del Piero converted to give Italy a psychological boost ahead of the two sides' game in June's European championship.

The Swedes were the brighter side in the first half with Stefan Schwarz going close after he robbed Ciro Ferrara inside the Italy penalty area. He saw his shot pushed wide by Gianluigi Buffon. Jorgen Petterson then headed just wide after good work from Niclas Alexandersson with Italy's experimental three-man defence looking shaky.

Italy's best chance came in the 27th minute when Vincenzo Montella picked out Christian Vieri with a neat chip into the box, but the Inter Milan striker was unable to bring the ball under control. Dino Zoff brought attacking threesome Alessandro Del Piero, Francesco Totti and Gennaro Gattuso on at the break as he sought to bring some life to an Italy side struggling to take control against the well-organised Swedes. But the game lost its rhythm and Italy's strikers were perpetually caught offside.

Sweden, who were calm and well-organised throughout, came close with a long range effort from substitute Magnus Arvidsson flashing just over the bar. Ten minutes from time Italy got the breakthrough when Mattias Jonsson mishit a back-pass and Hedman brought down Totti as he raced on to the ball. After some debate between Del Piero and his Juventus team mate Filippo Inzaghi as to who would take the spot-kick, Del Piero converted to claim his 10th goal for Italy and end a run of four games without a win.

The two sides will meet again in Eindhoven on June 19 in Group B of the Euro 2000 finals.
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