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Watch out Europe, Italy is on the move

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-06-19 09:57

ZURICH - Forget the defeat by Netherlands and the draw with Romania because Italy's 2-0 win over France on Tuesday showed the world champion is finally on the move.

The Letzigrund Stadium, where Italy sealed a place in the quarterfinals of Euro 2008 on Tuesday, is more famous for athletics and the fabulous Weltklasse meeting featuring world and Olympic champions than it is for soccer.

Italian supporters thank the Netherlands for scoring after their team won their Euro 2008 Group C soccer match against Italy on Tuesday at the Letzigrund stadium in Zurich. Italy won 2-0. [Agencies]

As every track fan knows, making a move at the right time, together with a little luck, are essential to winning races.

They are also the key to success at major soccer tournaments and Italy might just be moving into top gear at the right time.

If Euro 2008 was an 800m race, the potential medalists would now all be bunched at the bell at the end of the first lap, poised to start the sprint for home.

Italy started very slowly, and had no luck, in the first few strides, conceding a controversial goal in a 3-0 loss to the Dutch when Ruud van Nistelrooy was played onside by Christian Panucci despite the defender being off the field at the time.

But against Romania, Gianluigi Buffon saved a late penalty to earn Italy a point in a 1-1 draw, and versus France on Tuesday, the tide turned Italy's way as early as the 10th minute.

Franck Ribery, the creative playmaker in the French side, injured his knee and was driven off the field on a medical cart after a rash challenge on Gianluca Zambrotta.

France had to reorganize but left gaps in midfield and 15 minutes later suffered another calamity when central defender Eric Abidal was red carded for a foul on Luca Toni and they had to play for more than an hour with only 10 men.

Andrea Pirlo converted the subsequent penalty, Italy was ahead for the first time in the tournament and it consolidated its lead with a deflected second-half piledriver from Daniele De Rossi to secure a hard-earned 2-0 victory.

Italy next meets Spain in Sunday's quarterfinal in Vienna, and it cannot be discounted now.

Indeed, this is not even the slowest start it has made to a tournament. In 1982, it began the World Cup with three dull draws against Poland (0-0), Peru (1-1) and Cameroon (1-1).

Italian journalists whistled coach Enzo Bearzot when he took a training session before the last group match with the African side that nonetheless saw Italy squeeze into the next stage.

Three weeks later Bearzot had the last laugh after his men were crowned world champions, beating West Germany 3-1 in the final with wins over Argentina and Brazil along the way.

Current coach Roberto Donadoni agreed Italy was a little fortunate with De Rossi's deflected goal on Tuesday, saying:

"Possibly we were a bit lucky with the deflection but I don't think we were that lucky. We've had lots of chances but not been able score more often."

If the world champions are into their stride, and perhaps now have a little luck on their side too, the rest of the pack had better keep one eye over their shoulder.