A cracker of a game which saw Italy staring elimination in the face after trailing and being indebted to neckerchief wearing keeper Buffon for a late penalty save in a 1-1 draw against Romania.
The World Champions' hopes remain hanging by a thread and the modd is deparate with the inquest already underway in Italia and boss Donadoni making 5 changes for this game - desparation many reckoned.
A dramatic first half saw Italy take the game to the Romanians, come close a couple of times and have a goal wromngly disallowed but it was Romania who threatened most with a deflected free-kick coming off the inside of a post - the aftermath of which saw two Romanians inadvertently headbutt each other. One was carted away with a serious head injury, the other carried on with a bandage on his forehead that made him look like someothing out of Dr. Who. Mutu was played through one on one but shot straight at Buffon from an angle.
Both keepers made fine saves but the deadlock was broken in dramatic style when Zambrotta misjudged a back header and Mutu got behind him to finish emphatically as Buffon dashed out. The Italians looked in disarray as that happened but levelled in a minute, Panucci heading hiome at a corner as Romania forgot to put a man on the post.
There were thrills and spills at each end but the real drama came 6 minutes from time when Romania were awarded a contentious penalty, Mutu hit it well enough but Buffon saved it superbly and a Roman orgy followed.
Italy know their only hope of progression now is winning thier final game versus France and even then, they need a favourable result in the Holland v Romania game. Hanging by a thread.
Game video highlights here
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2008/7363356.stm
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