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| | Tuesday, 21 May, 2002, 00:39 GMT 01:39 UK England sunk by Maccarone Smith (r) clashed with Ferrari in the second half Italy 2-1 England Group A, European Under-21 Championship A superb Massimo Maccarone strike six minutes from time gave Italy a priceless victory in Basel. The Empoli striker had put his side ahead with an excellent solo effort in the 58th minute before England equalised through Gareth Barry six minutes later.
"We were beaten by a great finish and a great touch as well," said England coach David Platt. The win takes Italy to the top of the group and means England must beat Portugal in their final group game to guarantee a place in the semi-finals. David Platt's side were unlucky not to take a point off the Italians in a pulsating encounter that saw Daniele Bonera sent off in injury time for throwing a punch. Italy coach Claudio Gentile felt it was a harsh decision, particularly as Alan Smith had escaped an earlier clash with a yellow card.
"In the first game, we had a problem with the referee and it was the same tonight," said Gentile. "If Bonera was sent off, then he had to send Smith off as well. "I'm conscious that Alan Smith is a very great player and I was really afraid of him, but Bonera, Matteo Ferrari and Cesare Natali controlled him very well. "If we drop out of this championship, we have to do it because we lose, not because the referee is against us." With the pressure on Italy to go for the win, Platt chose to start the match with striker Jermain Defoe on the bench and Peter Crouch up front alone.
"But we changed it and then we had a foothold in the game. I felt quite comfortable in the second half. I wasn't unduly worried. "We equalised and showed the character to come back, and I felt that if anyone was going to go on and win it, it was us." The Italian midfield partnership of Andrea Pirlo and Marco Marchionni were happy to take the game to England in the opening stages, forcing 'keeper Paul Robinson into some fine early saves. Gentile's side almost took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Emiliano Bonazzoli's header from a corner was cleared off the line by David Dunn.
But England also went close, notably through a Paul Konchesky free-kick that struck the post and a Zat Knight header that was disallowed because of a foul. It was Italy who made the breakthrough in the second half when Maccarone collected a Pirlo pass in the box to slot confidently past Robinson. England were quickly back on terms following some superb footwork and a perfect cross from David Dunn, setting up Barry to volley home from close range.
Maccarone went round Chris Riggott with some clever control before smashing a half-volley into the top corner, sending the crowd's large Italian contingent wild. With a make-or-break game against Portugal to come, Platt insists he remain positive about England's chances. "There were some very good individual performances and I thought some good team play," he said. "Sean Davis was exceptional in the middle of the park and Alan Smith was a colossus again. "But more than that, I thought the team performance had belief in it and the important thing is that we don't lose that belief." Italy U21: Pelizzola, Bonera, Bellini, Ferrari, Marchionni, Brighi, Maccarone, Pirlo, Bonazzoli, Natali, Blasi. Subs: Cannavaro, Donati, Castellini, Dainelli, Lucchini, Gatti, Pinzi, Iaquinta, Caraccioli, Generoso Rossi, Spadavecchia. England U21: Robinson, Young, Konchesky, Davis, Barry, Dunn, Riggott, Prutton, Smith, Knight, Crouch. Subs: Stuart Taylor, Greening, Christie, Defoe, Pennant, Jenas, Parker, Zamora, Ameobi, Martin Taylor, Howarth. Referee: Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez (Bilbao) | |
See also:  18 May 02 | Football Top Football stories now: Links to more Football stories are at the foot of the page. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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