Italy 3-1 Czech Republic

2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship 
Gelredome, Arnhem
7.45pm (UK time), Sunday 17 June 2007

Italy failed to progress beyond the UEFA European Under-21 Championship group stage for the second season in succession despite ending Group B with a solid win against the Czech Republic in Arnhem.

Slow start
The Azurrini had won five of the last eight competitions but paid the price for taking just one point from their first two matches. That left Pierluigi Casiraghi's side relying on England failing to beat Serbia and, although Alberto Aquilani's fine fourth-minute free-kick met with wild celebrations, the mood had become more muted by the time Giorgio Chiellini restored Italy's lead after Michal Papadopulos had levelled in the 14th minute as news filtered through that England were winning. Giuseppe Rossi added a third in first-half added time but England's 2-0 victory in Nijmegen ensured Italy would finish in third place, although they do have the consolation of a play-off against Portugal on Thursday with the winner qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Early excitement
As the players prepared to kick off strains of "We will rock you" blasted round the ground and Italy took the anthem to heart, leaving their opponents shaken within the first four minutes as Aquilani's pinpoint free-kick curled over the wall and past Zdeněk Zlámal's despairing dive. Aquilani again and Marco Andreolli almost increased the lead, both from set-pieces, but within seconds of the latter opportunity the match was all square. Czech Republic coach Ladislav Škorpil had made five changes and one of the new faces, František Rajtoral, was the architect of the equaliser, evading two defenders to send in a low left-wing cross that Papadopulos prodded in ahead of Andreolli's challenge.

Set-piece threat
With both sides needing a win to keep alive realistic hopes of progress chances continued to come at both ends, Alessandro Rosina's through-pass setting Giampaolo Pazzini clear but Zlámal blocked with his right leg. The goalkeeper was beaten again a minute before the half-hour, however, Chiellini holding off three defenders to head in Rosina's deep right-wing free-kick. Rossi then extended the advantage with the final touch of the first period, rounding off a swift counterattack involving Rosina and Pazzini by skipping away from Roman Hubník to drill a low shot beyond Zlámal.

Formation change
Casiraghi had switched from his usual 4-1-4-1 formation to the 4-3-3 approach his side had employed in fighting back from two goals down against England on Thursday, and though the change had paid dividends in the first period the Czech Republic were the first to threaten after the restart, Jiří Kladrubský forcing Emiliano Viviano to push his shot over before Papadopulos glanced a header wide. The more obvious opportunities continued to come at the other end, however, Aquilani's pass putting substitute Graziano Pellè clean through but again Zlámal was sharply off his line to thwart the striker. Italy had already done enough, however, although the victory was greeted by little celebration.

Italy Goals: Aquilani 4, Chiellini 29, Rossi 45+ 1

Czech Republic Goals: Papadopulos 14

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