EURO 2000: Zoff sees flat Italy
in win
June 19, 2000
SportsServer
By Gideon Long
EINDHOVEN, Netherlands -
Italy's reserves gave their country a third straight Euro 2000 victory
Monday but failed to win over coach Dino Zoff.
"I was more satisfied after
our other two matches," a stone-faced Zoff growled after his experimental
side beat Sweden 2-1 to complete a clean sweep of group B.
"We started a bit slowly.
Early on, we didn't show the necessary determination for a match at this
level."
"The fact that we scored
two goals was the most positive thing about the performance but on the
negative side we suffered too much in some circumstances."
"We didn't support the two
forward players well enough."
Italy had already qualified
for the quarterfinals as group winners before the tie and could have afforded
to lose to a Swedish team which desperately needed a win.
Zoff therefore rested virtually
his entire starting lineup. Captain Paolo Maldini, goalkeeper Francesco
Toldo and midfielder Gianluca Pessotto were the only survivors from the
side which beat Turkey in their opening match.
Zoff described the personal
performances of all his players as "good," without going into details.
Asked what he thought of
his experimental striking partnership of Alessandro Del Piero and Vincenzo
Montella, he replied: "good."
Zoff gave a mixed opinion
of Del Piero, who looked isolated at times up front but scored a fine winner
with a strike from the edge of the box in the 88th minute.
"He created a positive doubt
for me," Zoff said, hinting that the Juventus forward could figure in Italy's
plans later in the tournament. "But there was certainly also a negative
doubt with Del Piero."
Zoff said he did not feel
Italy would start as the favorite in its quarterfinal match, which will
be against either England, Germany of Romania.
"We don't know who our opponents
will but whoever it is we won't start as favorites," he said. "From this
point on all the teams left in the competition will be strong and so we'll
have a 50 percent chance."
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