Turkey 1-2 Italy

June 11, 2000
Onefootball.com

A penalty won and converted by Filippo Inzaghi gave Italy a slender victory in a very open Group B encounter. The Azzurri should have won by a greater margin, but Del Piero, Totti, Fiore and Inzaghi – who was particularly profligate – failed to convert gilt-edged opportunities. Antonio Conte opened the scoring with an overhead kick.

Zoff named a two-man attack of Filippo Inzaghi and Francesco Totti for his side's opening match, resisting the temptation to start with Del Piero as a third forward. Instead, he gave Udinese's Stefano Fiore his fifth cap, playing behind the front two.

Turkey coach Denizli left Galatasaray forward Arif Erdem on the bench, meaning Hakan Sukur was a lone striker supported by Galatasaray team-mate Umit Davala.

Italy started the game brightly winning seven corners within the first ten minutes. But it was Turkey who had the first chance after only a minute, when a free-kick taken by Sukur on the halfway line forced Toldo into a save.

Turkey gave a good account of themselves and matched the Italians blow-for-blow in the first half. Their best chance came when Sergen latched on to a loose ball in the box, beat Toldo, but saw his curling shot sail agonisingly wide of the post.

Italy hit back immediately and, after a free-kick by Totti hit the wall, Maldini found space on the wing to put a cross on the head of Fiore – who nodded wide.

Italy frontman Inzaghi was becoming increasingly isolated as his strike partner Totti dropped back to counter the growing threat from the Turks.

And having failed to convert a host of chances, Italy sat back and soaked up pressure as the half drew to a close.

The second half was far more entertaining, with chances for both sides. Del Piero replaced Fiore in the 74th minute and almost immediately made his mark when his 30-yard free-kick hit the bar.

At the other end, Abdullah was fast becoming Turkey's biggest threat with a series of long-range efforts which kept Toldo's hands warm.

Turkey attacked with vigour but were caught out when a quick break by Italy presented the ball to Inzaghi. His shot was cleared off the line, but only to Conte eight yards out who adjusted his footing and, with an acrobatic leap, broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute.

But Turkey responded immediately when Okan Buruka was left unmarked to powerfully head home from a free-kick which Toldo badly misjudged. It was his country's first goal in any European Championship.

Italy could have regained their lead after a deep cross into the box was missed by Rustu in the Turkey goal and Totti's header rebounded off the bar. Inzaghi's follow-up was then cleared off the line.

But moments later, Inzaghi went on a strong run into the box, only to be barged off the ball by Ogun. Scottish referee Hugh Dallas pointed straight to the spot and was promptly pelted with fruit and other objects by irate Turks in the Arnhem crowd.

The decision seemed harsh on Ogun who appeared to make fair shoulder-to-shoulder contact with the Italian. But Inzaghi was unfazed and calmly converted to give Italy the lead and their first points of the tournament.

Teams:
Italy: Francesco Toldo, Paolo Maldini, Demetrio Albertini, Fabio Cannavaro, Antonio Conte, Filippo Inzaghi, Gianluca Pessotto (Iuliano 62), Alessandro Nesta, Gianluca Zambrotta, Stefano Fiore (Del Piero 74), Francesco Totti (Di Livio 83)

Subs Not Used: Abbiati, Antonioli, Ferrara, Negro, Di Biagio, Ambrosini, Delvecchio,
Montella.

Turkey: Rustu Recber, Tayfur Havutcu, Ogun Temizkanoglu, Fatih Akyel, Alpay Ozalan, Okan Buruk, Hakan Sukur, Sergen Yalcin (Erdem 81), Tayfun Korkut, Abdullah Ercan, Umit Davala (Tugay 76)

Subs Not Used: Catkic, Tuncay, Ozkoylu, Kaya, Izzet, Derelioglu, Unsal, Akman.

Referee: Hugh Dallas (Scotland)
.