Euro 2008 Italy Team Guide
Welcome to the euro2008betting.com Italy Team Guide for Euro 2008. Here we preview the chances of Italy for Euro 2008 plus take a look back at their Euro 2008 qualifiying performance and previous appearances at the European Championships.
Coach: Roberto Donadoni
Roberto Donadoni is the current Italian manager and a distinguished former player. He was an attacking midfielder
or winger known for pace and technique. He was a pillar of the powerhouse A.C. Milan teams of the late 1980s and
early 1990s and one of the pioneers of Major League Soccer in the USA, where he played two seasons for the NY/NJ
MetroStars. Donadoni was announced by the Italian Football Federation on July 13, 2006 as their new Head Coach,
succeeding Marcello Lippi who resigned after having won the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Euro 2008 Qualifying:
Replacing Marcello Lippi after Italy’s success at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, coach Roberto Donadoni made a shaky start in qualifying but his team eventually did enough qualify as Group B winners. A 1-1 home draw with Lithuania in their opening tie in Naples was a shock, but perhaps not as big a setback as the 3-1 defeat in France in their second qualifier, when Raymond Domenech's side avenged their defeat on penalties in the World Cup final. That would prove the only reverse the Azzurri suffered and Luca Toni’s two goals in a 2-0 win at home against Scotland in March 2007 provided an important reminder of the world champions' credentials. Italy won nine of their last ten qualifiers but were denied revenge against France with a goalless draw in Milan. They eventually secured qualification both for themselves and France by beating Scotland 2-1 in Glasgow thanks to another goal from Toni and an added-time winner from defender Christian Panucci. A 3-1 win against the Faroe Islands in their final fixture earned them top spot in the section at France's expense.
Past Euro Performance:
Italy won the 1968 UEFA European Championship, defeating Yugoslavia 2-0 in a final replay after the two sides had shared a 1-1 draw at Rome's Stadio Olimpico. Italy forced a replay when Angelo Domenghini's 80th-minute goal cancelled out Dragan Dzajić's opener after 39 minutes. The tournament hosts made no mistake in the replay played two days later as first-half goals from Luigi Riva (12) and Pietro Anastasi (31) sealed a 2-0 win.
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