Injury-hit Germany beaten 1-0 by Italy ( 2003-08-21 09:29) (Agencies)
Italy outclassed Germany 1-0 in an absorbing friendly international on
Wednesday as the visitors' awesome strike force overcame their injury-depleted
hosts.
Christian Vieri (2nd R) of Italy celebrates his goal with
his team mate Alessandro Del Piero (L) Francesco Totti (2nd L) and Mauro
Camoranesi during their international friendly soccer match against
Germany in Stuttgart August 20,
2003.[Reuters]
There had been keen interest in how a weakened German defence would deal with
the combined talents of three of the world's great strikers, Juventus'
Alessandro del Piero, Roma's Francesco Totti and Inter Milan's Christian Vieri.
Sure enough, it was a tightly coordinated passing movement between del Piero
and Totti running rings around the German back four which put Vieri through to
hammer home from just inside the box in the 17th minute.
Totti and Vieri combined again in the 23rd minute but Danish referee Kim
Milton Nielsen said the goal by del Piero was offside.
The Germans, missing eight key players, including midfield creative forces
Michael Ballack and Sebastian Deisler, had a weak first half and found it
difficult to hold on to the ball.
ALWAYS BITTER
However, they were transformed in the second half with better organisation at
the back after Hertha Berlin's Marko Rehmer was brought on for Christian Woerns
and Dortmund's Sebastian Kehl came on for Carsten Ramelow.
"It's always bitter to lose an international at home. We played well in the
second half but we didn't make the most of our chances," said German coach Rudi
Voeller, who played for Roma between 1987 and 1992 and has an Italian wife.
"You must remember Italy are a world-class team. You can never fully shut
down players like Del Piero, Totti or Vieri."
The German midfield piled on the pressure in the second half, ensuring a busy
night for Juventus's Gianluigi Buffon.
Italian trainer Giovanni Trapattoni said Germany probably deserved a draw
based on their second-half performance.
"In the second half we ran out of steam a bit as we're not in top form yet
because the season doesn't start until September," he said.
There was controversy in the run-up to the game because of suggestions by
Oliver Kahn that many of the German team lacked sufficient commitment to the
national side, pleading "injured left toes" instead of choosing to take part in
a friendly.
With six World Cups between them, pride was the main thing at stake in the
clash, but Voeller was aware that his side's easy run to the final of the World
Cup in 2002 masked a major dip in form for the three-time world champions.
Defeat means Germany have not beaten a top international side since October
2000 when they beat England 1-0 at Wembley.
Germany top Group Five on 11 points and next travel to Iceland in European
Championship qualifying on September 6 before hosting Scotland four days later.
Italy are second in Group Nine but can go top if they beat leaders Wales, who
lost on Wednesday to Serbia and Montenegro, on September 6 at home. They then
travel to Serbia and Montenegro four days later.
