Italy nips Sweden for lackluster win

February 23, 2000
SportsServer

Italy played a hugely unimpressive game Wednesday in a Euro 2000 warmup against a dogged Sweden before finally edging through 1-0 to save face on a late penalty from Alessandro del Piero.

The Italians would, nevertheless, settle for a repeat of the scoreline in four months as they face the well-organized Swedes, along with Turkey and Belgium, in Group B of the Euro finals.

Dino Zoff's "squadra azzurra" had to think back eight months to its most recent success, a 4-0 whipping of Wales last June in Bologna. But without the likes of injured Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Costacurta a repeat was not on the cards as the team lacked cohesion throughout.

"We tried to make sure we shored things up in defense as we have conceded too many goals recently. But we lacked incisiveness up front," admitted Zoff.

It was only the second-half introduction of Del Piero and Roma playmaker Francesco Totti that brought a marginal improvement on a dire first half.

And it eventually fell to Del Piero to make the difference from the spot after visiting keeper Magnus Hedman clattered into Totti on the edge of the box as they both battled to reach a loose ball.

The Italians will need a big improvement for their next outing, which will be at Spain in Barcelona March 29 and certainly before their opening Euro test on June 11 against the Turks.
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