Experimental Italy draw with Romania
Reuters - Wednesday 17 November 2010, 22:44
KLAGENFURT, Austria - Romania striker
Ciprian Marica scored at both ends in a 1-1 draw with a
disjointed Italy on Wednesday but racist boos and banners
towards Mario Balotelli marred the friendly.
Marica grabbed a deserved opener after 34 minutes when he
rifled in following a spot of pinball in the box but he also
deflected in substitute Fabio Quagliarella's header following a
corner eight minutes from time.
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Juventus forward Quagliarella tried to claim the goal,
having earlier come on for striker Balotelli who was subjected
to racist booing from the crowd with the origins of the chants
unclear.
However, Italian ultra fans did unveil a banner reading "no
to a multi-ethnic national team".
"I am disappointed and angry, we give lots of speeches and
then these things happen," Italy coach Cesare Prandelli told Rai
television.
"But the lad must know that everyone has affection for him.
I would like to see some sort of positive gesture towards him,
maybe someone needs to give him a hug."
The Azzurri's last Euro 2012 qualifier at home to Serbia was
abandoned after six minutes last month when right-wing away fans
rioted but Italy have long struggled with their own "ultra"
supporters with Romania having sporadic problems too.
Manchester City's Balotelli, Italy-born and of Ghanaian
descent, was subjected to racist abuse from Juventus fans in
particular while playing for Inter Milan as a teenager.
LEDESMA DEBUT
Prandelli handed debuts to four players, including
Argentina-born midfielder Cristian Ledesma which has also upset
the ultras, but the experimental line-up meant there was little
fluency or cohesion.
Brescia's ex-West Ham United playmaker Alessandro Diamanti
was anonymous and taken off at the break on his first appearance
as a replacement for Antonio Cassano, dropped after being
suspended by Sampdoria for swearing at the club president.
Balotelli returned in the rain and offered the only real
first-half spark for Italy, managing two good shots, while
substitute Alberto Gilardino was lively in the second period.
"We came up against a very aggressive side," Prandelli
added. "In the second half we worked better, found more spaces.
It was fantastic that we didn't want to lose this game."
Romania, struggling in fifth in Euro 2012 Group D in
contrast to Italy who top Group C, looked composed on the ball
except for being rattled by Gilardino after the break.
The only negative was defender Cristian Chivu limping off
with a muscle injury after 15 minutes to hand faltering club
side Inter Milan a fresh blow after a string of other injuries.
The friendly was played in Austrian Euro 2008 host city
Klagenfurt for commercial reasons and because of its
geographical position between Romania and Italy.
The Azzurri are back in qualifying action on March 25 in
Slovenia while the Romanians visit Bosnia a day later.