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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.
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