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1/8 Final - Italy-Norway, Vieri points Italy to Round 3 |
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Christian Vieri sent Italy into the World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday when his fifth goal of the tournament proved enough to beat a disappointing Norway 1-0 in the Velodrome.
The Atletico Madrid striker latched onto a Luigi Di Biagio through ball in the 18th minute, held off Dan Eggen and sent a powerful low shot past Frode Grodas. He has scored in all four of Italy's games and is currently the tournament's leading marksman.
Italy's next game will be against the France vs. Paraguay winner on Friday at Saint-Denis.
It was Norway's first defeat in 20 games and coach Egil Olsen said he was bitter at losing "a bad match " to "a bad Italian side."
"I'm disappointed we didn't play up to our limit," Olsen said. "I'm not very impressed by Italy, either. It was more because we didn't play well that we lost."
The outspoken Olsen had already angered Brazil by implying he was a better coach than Mario Zagallo and his remarks on Saturday triggered an immediate response from Paolo Maldini, son of Italian coach Cesare and the Italian captain.
"What makes me laugh is that they were losing 1-0, they had 10 men behind the ball and they expected us to come forward. We're not as stupid as the other teams they played."
Italy coach Cesare Maldini saw the game differently than Olsen. "We played very, very well," he said. "When you get to the last 16 it's always hard work.
"It was a highly tactical match. Norway played well but we were able to counter them successfully. I think our goal was well deserved."
Match-winner Vieri said, "I'm very pleased to be top-scorer in the competition, but the important thing is Italy are in the last eight."
Norway, with just towering Tore Andre Flo up front, rarely troubled the Italian defense in a match played in strength-sapping heat, while the 1994 runners-up can point to at least a half-dozen good chances.
Only in the early stages, when the Italians seemed a little disorganized, did it look like they might concede a goal. Gianluca Pagliuca parried a shot by Havard Flo and Henning Berg went close with a header from a corner.
Norway's plans were hampered as Oyvind Leonhardsen limped off after 13 minutes and his replacement, Roar Strand, was stretchered off in the 40th minute with a cut head after being caught by Francesco Moriero.
But Italy settled after the goal, with Di Biagio always looking to release his strikers with passes behind the Norwegian defense.
Vieri was a willing runner but the best chances fell to Alessandro Del Piero.
Norwegian keeper Grodas foiled him with a good save and the Juventus star then produced a poor attempt to chip over the keeper on the stroke of halftime.
Grodas made another excellent save to keep out a Dino Baggio header after the midfielder was left unmarked on a coarner kick.
At the other end, Tore Andre Flo was always a handful but in general was well-shackled by experienced Italian defenders Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Costacurta.
Italy had the better chances of the second half and Del Piero added to his chapter of missed opportunities when he shot just wide after an hour when he snuck behind the the defense.
Norway's best chance of the match came in the 72nd minute, when Tore Andre Flo connected with an Erik Mykland cross but Pagliuca made a reaction save to stop the header on the goal line.
Olsen sent on Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in for Havard Flo a minute later but the change that worked so well against Brazil failed to come off this time.
Italy should have wrapped it up in the last minute when Vieri found substitute Enrico Chiesa with a superb pass, but the Parma player blazed his shot over the bar.
Italy captain Maldini was booked for stalling in the last minute, a mistake that could cost him dear should he mis-time a tackle later in the tournament and pick up another yellow card.
Moriero and Di Biagio also were cautioned, but Costacurta, who missed the 1994 final through suspension, managed to stay out of the book this time.
