Disappointing Italy fail to
clinch finals spot
September 1, 2001
AFP
KAUNAS, Lithuania - Lithuania
held Italy to a 0-0 draw here Saturday in a World Cup European Zone group
eight qualifier, preventing the three-times champions from qualifying for
next year's finals with a match to be spare.
Lithuania fully deserved
their point while Italy must now win their last match at home to Hungary
to be certain of qualifying although the odds are still stacked heavily
in their favour despite this below-par display.
Many had expected this to
be a triumphal march to Japan and South Korea for the Italians but they
were sluggish throughout against the same team they trounced 4-0 in Trieste
earlier in the tournament.
The tone was set early on
when the first real opportunity fell to Lithuania in the second minute.
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon flapped at a freekick and Edgaras Jankauskas
had what looked a simple chance but froze allowing the Italian defence
to crowd him out with Buffon stranded.
More than 15 minutes had
elapsed before Italy managed a worthwhile attempt on goal with Francesco
Totti forcing Gintauras Stauce to save with a well-struck freekick.
Stauce was forced into action
again when he had to tip over a fine shot from Alessandro Del Piero. But
those were rare sorties from Italy and it was Lithuania who had most of
the possession in the first period with Tomas Razanauskas spurning a good
freekick chance after a foul by Alessandro Nesta on the edge of the box.
It was a dire first half
by any standards but in the second period it was Lithuania who showed first
again with a deflected Rankauskas shot almost catching out Buffon.
Off-target shots from Inter
Milan forward Christian Vieri and Gianluca Zambrotta of Juventus were the
best Italy could manage at the start of the second half but just on the
hour mark the three-times World Cup winners finally carved out a real chance.
A chipped pass from Alessio
Tacchinardi found Totti but the AS Roma skipper drilled his shot straight
at Stauce's feet.
Trapattoni decided to shake
things up and brought on Filippo Inzaghi of AC Milan in place of Del Piero.
The frustration was beginning to show and defender Fabio Cannavaro was
booked for a needless foul and minutes later Jankauskas went desperately
close to giving the home side when he sidestepped two tackles but fired
just wide of Buffon's post.
Tacchinardi was also booked
as he halted another promising Baltic raid and Vieri had a goal disallowed
for climbing as he headed past Stauce.
Time was running out and
Trapattoni brought on Barcelona's new signing Francesco Coco for Zambrotta
and Stefano Fiore for Totti but neither could produce the moment of inspiration
and Lithuania fully deserved a point.
.