France vs Italy, 2008 European Championship, Group Stage
· UEFA European ChampionshipAbout
France are hosting Italy
at Letzigrund Stadium, , , starting on
. The match is a part of the UEFA European Championship.
Match Timeline
- 0': Join us at 1945BST to see if either Italy or France can finally win a game and give themselves a glimmer of hope in the 'group of death'. Were one of them to win they could still sneak through, depending on the Romania Holland outcome.
- 0': The teams, Italy: Buffon, Zambrotta, Panucci, Chiellini, Grosso, Pirlo, De Rossi, Gattuso, Toni, Perrotta and Cassano. Subs from: Amelia, De Sanctis, Gamberini, Barzagli, Del Piero, Di Natale, Borriello, Ambrosini, Quagliarella, Camoranesi, Aquilani and Materazzi.
- 0': France: Coupet, Clerc, Gallas, Abidal, Evra, Govou, Toulalan, Makelele, Ribery, Benzema and Henry. Subs from: Mandanda, Frey, Boumsong, Vieira, Malouda, Anelka, Nasri, Thuram, Squillaci, Gomis, Sagnol and Diarra.
- 0': So, Domenech drops Thuram and recalls Benzema for this chrunchiest of crunch games. The young Lyon striker partners Thierry Henry up front, while Abidal will line-up alongside William Gallas at the back. Will it be enough to topple the World Champions?
- 0': As for Italy, Donadoni has gambled on the mercurial talent of Antonio Cassano in place of Del Piero. Only problem is, the lad is completely mental, and could blow up at any time. Gattuso is back for Mauro Camoranesi in the middle.
- 0': Well, well, well. How the mighty have fallen eh? Who would have thought these two would be scrapping for their lives in the group of death? France need to win and hope Holland beat Romania, Italy can progress with a draw if Romania lose, but surely can't rely on that. Whatever happens, it should be pant-wettingly exciting.
- 1': We're off...
- 2': Just so you know, France are in Blue, Italy are in white. If there is some nugget of insight to expunge from that piece of information, I'm not sure what it is.
- 2': Ribery shoots, Panucci makes the block and France have a corner.
- 3': Toni clears with a volley before Clerc wins another corner, this time on the right.
- 4': The ball ran through a crowd of players, including Toulalan, before Zambrotta brings the ball clear.
- 5': Great chance for Italy! The ball breaks for Toni, he's clean through but for some reason he chooses to shoot from 20 yards and misses! What was he thinking?!
- 6': Now Ribery breaks before Henry disrupts the momentum with some poor control. After he regained his composure he fed the ball back to Ribery who shot wide from a diffcult angle. A decent start to the game.
- 7': Luca Toni won't be popular with his coach after that earlier miss. He HAD to take another touch and draw Coupet out before shooting but seemed to panic and slapped a shot in early.
- 8': Ribery is down clutching his ankle after fouling Zambrotta; cue concerned faces on the French bench.
- 9': The stretcher is on and Robery looks like he'll be making an early exit from the game - he's clearly in pain. Samir Nasri is preparing to come on.
- 10': Ribery is in terrible trouble, he shouts at one of the physio's before Thierry Henry comes in to calm him down. He's leaving to a standing ovation and Nasri is on. Not ideal for the French.
- 11': Italy win a corner as Toulalan heads Pirlo's free kick behind.
- 12': Panucci, who scored against Romania in Italy's last game, gets a strong header in from the corner and Makelele clears it off the line!
- 13': Poor old Ribery. To be fair he's had little impact in the tournament so far, but big players like the big stage and tonight may well have been his night.
- 14': Perotta breaks from midfield and Abidal does well to cut out a ball aimed for Toni.
- 15': Grosso gets to the byline but doesn't get the necessary elevation on his cross to find the big man, Toni. Abidal clears at the near post.
- 16': First sniff of goal for Karim Benzema but his punt from distance is scuffed somewhat and causes Buffon nee botha.
- 17': Perotta tries to get Cassano on the ball but hits it out of play. Italy not fluid yet. Nor France actually. So, just to recap, no-one is fluid so far. Ok?
- 18': Evra gets the game's first yellow after charging in on Cassano. Luckily the Italian doesn't get up and belt him. Free kick wide right.
- 19': Coupet comes out to punch Pirlo's free-kick as Toni was lurking with intent.
- 20': Govou has wasted a great chance. He had space on the right, options inside and out, but he chose to drag a poor shot ten yards wide of the target. Awful.
- 21': It's still all square in Berne between Holland and Romania by the way. I shall keep you bang up to date.
- 22': Half chance for Italy as Perotta was fed inside the box ahead of the last man. He couldn't get the ball under control though and Coupet is out to claim.
- 23': Nice link up between Govou, Toulalan and Benzema. The latter skips past Gattuso and looks for Henry in the box but Chiellini intercepts.
- 24': PENALTY ITALY! Abidal is sent off for bringing down Toni when he was bearing down on goal.
- 25': Pirlo scores, and as it stands Italy are going through!
- 26': A smashing pen from Pirlo, he's smashed it into the top corner. Coupet had no chance.
- 27': Jean Alain Boumsong has come on for Nasri - who has only been on the field for 16 minutes after replacing Ribery!
- 28': A neat move from Italy, Perotta spins inside the area and lays it off for Di Rossi who blazes his effort over the bar.
- 29': Perotta swings in a cross, Toni gets a back flick on it and sends the ball inches wide. What an effort!
- 30': So, the penalty decision. There was contact but Toni has made the absolute most if it, and once the ref gave the spot kick he had to send Abidal off, however you look at it.
- 30': Toni again! A looping ball finds him edging in front of Gallas but he fluffs his attempted volley wide of the post. He should have had plenty by now..
- 31': Toni again! Gattuso finds him in the area in space, he spins and hits on from 16 yards and screws it wide! He could have had a double hat-trick already!!
- 32': Govou isn't making any friends in the French side. Again he finds space to run at Grosso but despite having Henry and Benzema in support he loses possession and Italy earn a goal kick.
- 33': Chance for France! Henry flashes a shot wide of the post after Toulalan slid him in down the right channel. A great ball and a wasted opportunity.
- 34': France look like they've re-organised a little now. After the change Zambrotta and Toni were carving them open at will but they look a tad more solid now. What a shame Henry couldn't convert his chance, you get the feeling there won't be that many forthcoming.
- 35': Another forward move by the French as Henry holds off Panucci to lay the ball back to Benzema, who mis-controls.
- 36': Now Benzema has fluffed a simple ball wide to Evra.
- 37': Henry has won a free-kick from Gattuso as he looked to have a pop. Decent chance for the French, 25 yards out just left of centre.
- 38': Oh dear, not Benzema's best five minutes this. His low free kick hits the wall then his follow-up flies well wide of the target. Henry gives him daggers.
- 39': Evra does well to slide in and block Gattuso's cross after a neat move involving Zambrotta and Perotta.
- 40': First sign that Cassano is getting twitchy - he's giving Boumsong some feedback.
- 41': I haven't even had time to ridicule JA Boumsong yet, and being a Newcastle fan, I'm pretty well qualified. He's toilet, believe me.
- 42': Benzema does well to work space with Gattusao snapping at his heels but his deep cross is well over the head of Henry, who was the only French player in the box.
- 43': What a smashing run by Di Rossi, he jinked past Makelele and Toulalan before a Cryuff turn nearly set him clear on goal but for a foul. Free kick.
- 44': Grosso has hit the post! He bent the free-kick round the wall and it has cannoned back off the woodwork!
- 44': After the ball came back off the post - Coupet got a brilliant touch to it by the way - Perotta went down when trying to claim the rebound. As France then broke Pirlo slid in on Benzema and was booked, meaning he'll miss the QF if they go through.
- 45': Three minutes of time added....
- 45': Henry wins another free kick and Chiellini gets a yellow card for the challenge.
- 45': Makelele swings it in but Toni clears, and that is half time..
- 46': We begin again...
- 47': So, I wonder what Domenech said to his ten-men at half time? They are walking a tightrope, needing two goals to have any hope of going through but also needing to be as solid as possible. Tough one.
- 48': Govou goes into the book for a lunge on Cassano.
- 49': Pirlo floats a ball into Toni who beats JAB in the air, but his knock down is too strong for Di Rossi and Evra steps in.
- 50': Holland have very nearly taken the lead in Berne - Lobont has just made a tremendous point blank save from Van Persie.
- 50': In Zurich Benzema has flashed a volley just wide of the post after Govou's cross had deflected into his path.
- 51': Makelele finds Henry on the box edge and he shimmies past Panucci before firing a shot right at Buffon. France have started well in this second half.
- 52': henry again is in the action, side-stepping Pirlo before hitting a shot that Buffon had to scramble for. Italy are sitting worryingly deep.
- 53': Gattuso gets a yellow for a clip on Makelele and he will miss the QF if Italy go through. Pirlo has also been booked so they'll need a new central midfield pairing if they progress.
- 54': Goal in Berne, Huntelaar has scored and Holland lead Romania 1-0!
- 55': Massimo Ambrosini is coming on for Pirlo, like for like.
- 56': So, Italy are in the box seat now if they can hold on. Romania now need two goals to save their skin. And France are in with a shout if they can overhaul this lead. Ooohhhh....
- 57': Benzema nearly manages to burst through after Gattuso is caught in possession by Govou. Italy need to come out more. One more goal would put this to bed, instead they look intent on protecting what they've got.
- 58': Toulalan has the ball and a bank of Italian midfielders and defenders stand in front of him. They are playing like the team with ten men.
- 59': They just seem happy to lump it up to Luca Toni when they could work plenty of space and stretch France's ten men if they kept it on the deck with a bit of composure.
- 60': Coupet rushes out to nip the ball away from Toni as he chased down a Di Rossi through ball.
- 61': Cassano is in the wars again, Clerc hauls him down this time and should have been booked as they were plenty of Italian options open.
- 62': GOAL! Di Rossi scores and Italy should be through!
- 62': A huge deflection off Thierry Henry has taken Di Rossi's free kick away from Coupet and that should be that. Unlucky on France.
- 63': Perotta is off and Camoranesi has come on.
- 64': You have to feel for Thierry Henry. He's looked purposeful in both the games he has played, and just when France were on top, and Henry was looking lively, they've shipped a very unfortunate goal. Italy didn't deserve it at all based on their second half performance.
- 65': Anelka is coming on for Govou, as France roll the dice for the final time.
- 66': Unless France pull of a Turkey-sized miracle, Romania are the only ones who can dent Italy's progress. No sign of a comeback from them at present though.
- 67': Gattuso goes down after the Makelele had slipped under pressure from Camoranesi. That looked painful.
- 68': Henry wins a free-kick as he and Evra combine down the left, and as the camera pans to Domenech, he looks on the verge of a nervous.
- 69': Henry didn't win a free kick in fact, he just fell over. The referee waved him up and said get on with it, or words to that effect.
- 70': Cassano is down again, after a Platoon-style dive.
- 71': Benzema finds space on the right which Clerc runs into but his cross was atrocious, then my mate Boumsong gets a yellow card for a poor challenge on Toni.
- 72': Camoranesi sweeps in a cross and Gallas manages to get his head in the way of Toni's flick. Italy have a corner.
- 73': Well, it looks like only Romania can deny Italy a place in the quarter finals now, but as my soccernet colleague Phil Holland reports, they aren't looking very likely. At all.
- 74': What a save from Buffon! Benzema curls one towards the top corner and Buffon is across quick smart to turn it round the post. Brilliant.
- 75': Gallas charges in on Camoranesi and then collapses in a heap. No sign of any tears or tantrums yet.
- 76': That Buffon save has to be one of the best in the tournament so far. He's had little to do in the game but quick-stepped across his line and got fingertips to that Benzema effort. It was a certain goal if he hadn't got something on it.
- 77': Gallas is back on but not looking happy. France are basically playing with nine men at the minute.
- 78': Italy are just playing keep ball now and France look knackered. This will go down as one of their worst tournaments in history.
- 79': A bit more urgency from Romania in Berne but still no danger of a goal. Holland always threatening on the break too...
- 81': We are just winding down to the inevitable here...
- 82': Gattuso is coming off, and gets a rousing reception from the Italian fans as he thumps the badge on his shirt. Aquilani is on.
- 83': Now Cassano is at it, waving his arms at the fans after winning a free kick. Its all very well showboating now lads, but you've not played well, and you've had to rely on Holland doing you a favour. So shut it.
- 84': Henry is apoplectic after the referee denies him a corner. Domenech looks utterly dejected.
- 85': Now Henry gets a booking after a crunching, but ball-winning challenge, on Zambrotta. Useless refereeing. Its still a contact sport after all.
- 86': Coupet again rushes out to deny Toni after Aquilani looked for him.
- 87': Camoranesi has a pop after Cassano spread the ball wide to him. Its deflected off Evra and behind for a corner.
- 87': A goal for Holland in Berne and Romania's brave charge is over. Italy are heading for the quarter finals, where they will more than likely face Spain. Ooh, tasty.
- 88': Benzema fires in a free kick as France try to salvage something from the game.
- 89': Benzema whacks in another free-kick and though Gallas was lurking at the back post, the ball flew well over his head.
- 90': The Italian fans are in raptures now, as you'd imagine. It'd be just like them to go and win the thing now wouoldn't it?!
- 91': Three minutes added in Zurich...
- 92': Come on ref, blow the whistle and put France out of their misery.
- 93': Luca Toni still can't score! De Rossi finds him in space and his effort hits the angle of post and bar.
- 94': That's it, its all over and Italy are through!
- 95': So, Italy go through after Holland do them a huge favour, but they were still far, far from convincing. They'll have to raise their game ahead of their likely quarter final with Spain. As for France, its the end of an era. They new a new coach, new ideas and some younger players.
Statistics
 ITA |
FRA |
|
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Fouls | 22 |
| 3 | Yellow Cards | 4 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 1 |
| 1 | Offsides | 3 |
| 3 | Corner Kicks | 3 |
| 5 | Saves | 4 |
| 50 | Possession | 50 |
| 13 | SHOTS | 13 |
| 5 | ON GOAL | 7 |
| 0.4 | On Target % | 0.5 |
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 0 |
| 1 | Penalty Kicks Taken | 0 |
| 11 | Accurate Passes | 11 |
| 11 | Passes | 11 |
| 0.0 | Pass Completion % | 0.0 |
| 1 | Accurate Crosses | 4 |
| 7 | Crosses | 10 |
| 0.1 | Cross % | 0.4 |
| 0 | Long Balls | 0 |
| 0 | Accurate Long Balls | 0 |
| 0.0 | Long Balls % | 0.0 |
| 3 | Blocked Shots | 3 |
| 0 | Effective Tackles | 0 |
| 0 | Tackles | 0 |
| 0.0 | Tackle % | 0.0 |
| 0 | Interceptions | 0 |
| 5 | Effective Clearances | 6 |
| 5 | Clearances | 6 |
Game Information
Competition: UEFA European Championship
Venue: Letzigrund Stadium
Location: ,
Venue: Letzigrund Stadium
Location: ,
EURO Table
| # | TEAM | GP | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | England | 3 | +1 | 5 |
| 2 | Denmark | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Slovenia | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Serbia | 3 | -1 | 2 |
Line-Ups
France
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 23 | Gregory Coupet (GK) |
| 14 | François Clerc |
| 5 | William Gallas |
| 3 | Eric Abidal  |
| 13 | Patrice Evra  |
| 10 | Sidney Govou |
| 20 | Jérémy Toulalan |
| 6 | Claude Makelele |
| 22 | Franck Ribéry |
| 9 | Karim Benzema |
| 12 | Thierry Henry |
Italy
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Gianluigi Buffon (GK) |
| 19 | Gianluca Zambrotta |
| 2 | Christian Panucci |
| 4 | Giorgio Chiellini |
| 3 | Fabio Grosso |
| 21 | Andrea Pirlo |
| 10 | Daniele De Rossi |
| 8 | Gennaro Gattuso |
| 20 | Simone Perrotta |
| 9 | Luca Toni |
| 18 | Antonio Cassano |
EURO News
Thomas Tuchel named England manager: FA hires ex-Chelsea boss
Thomas Tuchel has been announced as England's new head coach, the Football Association confirmed on Wednesday.
Ex-England boss Gareth Southgate vows year off from coaching
Former England manager Gareth Southgate has ruled out returning to coaching for at least year despite interest from Manchester United should they decide to sack Erik ten Hag.
Euro 2024 review says Germany deserved penalty against Spain
A report on Euro 2024 issued by UEFA's Referees' Committee said that Germany should have been awarded a penalty for handball in their defeat to Spain.
England could face UEFA, Euro ban over government regulator
England and English football teams could be removed from UEFA competitions if a new regulator is considered to be "government interference" in the sport.
Euro 2028: Northern Ireland to lose hosting rights over funding
Northern Ireland will lose hosting rights to games at Euro 2028 after the United Kingdom government announced on Friday that it will withdraw funding for the rebuilding of Casement Park.