Buffon keeps Italy in hunt

Italy, humbled 3-0 by Netherlands in their opening Group C game on Monday, will feel hard done by after striker Luca Toni had a goal wrongly ruled out for offside before the interval.

He powerfully headed in from close range and television replays showed he was clearly in front of the last defender when Zambrotta played the ball into the packed box.

“I’m not used to talking about referees … let’s say it was an off day (for Norwegian Tom Henning Ovrebo),” said Italy coach Roberto Donadoni.

“It’s silly they can see Panucci off the field on the ground in the Holland match but they can’t see a player (Toni) coming out from the post (into an onside position). We deserved to win but luck didn’t accompany us.”

On Monday, Ruud van Nistelrooy scored for the Dutch from what appeared an offside position. But UEFA said it was right the goal should stand because Panucci played the striker onside as he was lying on the ground beyond the byline.

Panucci was also involved in Friday’s late penalty when Daniel Niculae went down under his challenge with nine minutes to go. But Buffon dived to his left to stop Mutu’s penalty with a combination of his hand and boot.

FIVE CHANGES

Italy, who have only one point and anxiously await the outcome of the France-Netherlands game later on Friday ahead of their meeting with Les Bleus on Tuesday, made five changes with Alessandro Del Piero coming in and captaining the side.

They also switched to a 4-3-1-2 formation from 4-3-3 and were much more vibrant, creating several chances in the air as they tried to boost their chances of reaching the last eight.

Del Piero failed to connect properly with an early close-range header before strike partner Toni nodded wide from left back Fabio Grosso’s centre.

Toni then had another header superbly pushed away by Romania goalkeeper Bogdan Lobont, who also did well to deny Italy in a penalty-box scramble.

Romania had their share of first-half chances with Cristian Chivu hitting the post from a free kick which deflected off defender Panucci.

Mutu had a shot saved by Buffon after beating Italy’s offside trap while the keeper was also forced into a smart stop from Gabriel Tamas’s fierce free kick from distance.

Romania midfielder Mirel Radoi was taken off on a stretcher after a clash of heads with team mate Razvan Rat in the 23rd minute. Defender Dorin Goian was also booked and will miss their final group game with the Dutch on Tuesday.

“It was a fair result,” said coach Victor Piturca. “We managed to win a point and although we controlled a lot of the game and missed the penalty we have to see it as a positive result.”