Debutants shine with Cameroon
Italy 0-0 Cameroon
Stade Louis II, Monte Carlo
Giorgio Chiellini had a goal disallowed, but Andrea Cossu and Leonardo Bonucci made impressive debuts in the 0-0 with Cameroon.Marcello Lippi experimented with a new 3-4-3 system in this Monte Carlo friendly against Samuel Eto'os Cameroon, who have also qualified for the World Cup. Cagliari trequartista Cossu was given his debut at the age of 29 and Bari's Bonucci promoted from the Under-21 side, while Marco Borriello returned for the first time since June 2008.
Chiellini risked an own goal in the opening minutes with a poor backpass that took Federico Marchetti by surprise. Antonio Di Natale's header turned an Andrea Pirlo free kick over the bar.
Italy put the ball in the back of the net after a howler from the goalkeeper. Hamidou Souleymane completely mistimed his catch for a corner, which Daniele De Rossi flicked up for Chiellini's header. However, the linesman correctly noted that he was in an offside position.
It was a friendly, but a real game, as Chiellini was booked after 21 minutes and Enoh Eyong followed soon after for clattering into Pirlo. A free kick was not cleared effectively by Fabio Cannavaro, but Georges Mandjeck scuffed the shot well wide.
A wonderful Cossu cross-field ball over the top found Di Natale at the back post, but he couldn't keep the volley on target, hitting the side-netting.
Italy created a fine team move with Cossu's slide-rule pass for Di Natale to fire straight at Souleymanou at the near post, then Borriello's follow-up was smothered from point-blank range. Moments later Cossu again crossed from the right for Di Natale's header off target.
Pirlo was booked for a late tackle on Stephane Mbia before half-time. Lippi made numerous changes at the break, removing Domenico Criscito, De Rossi, Borriello and Pirlo. Gennaro Gattuso, Riccardo Montolivo, Claudio Marchisio and Giampaolo Pazzini were introduced for a 4-3-3- system. Cameroon also made changes for the second half with Marvin Matip and Tchoyi Somen.
Di Natale had the first chance after the restart, surging past his marker to thump a fierce right-foot strike from the edge of the box that stung Souleymanou's palms.
Cossu's slide-rule pass released Pazzini, but his shot from six yards was charged down for a corner by Nicolas Nkoulou. A cross from the right glanced off Pazzini's head and Marchisio's follow-up was scuffed, then Di Natale's strike was deflected over the bar again by Nkoulou.
Bonucci showed a calm head to stop Eto'o on the counter-attack from an Italy corner. Fabio Quagliarella replaced his former Udinese teammate Di Natale and he backheeled a long corner back in for Bonucci, whose shot was charged down from point-blank range by the goalkeeper.
Cameroon had their best chance of the game when Bonucci allowed a long ball to go through, intercepted by substitute Achille Webo, but Marchetti blocked him bravely and the offside flag eventually went up.
Fabio Cannavaro handed the captain's armband to Gattuso when he made way for Palermo's Mattia Cassani. Webo nodded a corner well wide of the near post and Bonucci was booked in the final minutes.
Eto'o smartly dummied a move so he changed direction in the box, but Gattuso was glued to him and forced a goal kick.
<Post-Match Comments
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Italy: Marchetti; Bonucci, Cannavaro (Cassani 82), Chiellini; Maggio, De Rossi (Gattuso 46), Pirlo (Marchisio 46), Criscito (Montolivo 46); Cossu, Borriello (Pazzini 46), Di Natale (Quagliarella 61)
Cameroon: Souleymanou; Mbia (Abouna 74), Nkoulou, Bassong (Nounkeu 46), Assou-Ekotto; Mandjeck, A Song (Makoun 58), Eyong (Matip 46); Emana (Somen 46), Eto'o; Kouemaha (Webo 75)
Ref: Enjimi (Fra)
Lippi: 'A very useful game' Wednesday 3 March, 2010
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Marcello Lippi praised the two debutants and insisted the 0-0 with Cameroon was “a very useful game.”
This friendly gives the Coach pause for thought before Lippi names his Italy squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
“It was a very useful game, as we saw the lads I had called for the first time and of course Marco Borriello who'd already played for the Nazionale under Roberto Donadoni,” said the Coach.
This tie saw Bari defender Leonardo Bonucci and Cagliari trequartista Andrea Cossu receive their senior Italy debuts for the entire 90 minutes.
“Bonucci and Cossu played with character and quality on their debuts. I also tested out some things with the other players. It was a very useful game,” reiterated Lippi.
Giorgio Chiellini had a goal disallowed and there were chances for Giampaolo Pazzini and Antonio Di Natale.
“We were missing seven players, so it's natural we wouldn't get many goals.”
Lippi is under increasing pressure to call the likes of Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano for the squad.
“I read the opinion polls, but they don't bother me.”
Bonucci: 'It's a starting point' Wednesday 3 March, 2010
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Bari defender Leonardo Bonucci was pleased with his senior Italy debut. “I hope this will be a starting point.”
A regular for the Under-21 side, Bonucci played the entire 90 minutes in the 0-0 draw with Cameroon.
“It was positive. I tried to do what the Coach told me, which is to do my best, and I hope this will be a starting point,” said the defender.
“I tried to follow my orders and it all becomes easier when playing alongside these champions.
“I always try to be myself, nothing more and nothing less. I work every day and did the same in the Nazionale. I've been getting compliments, so I must've done something right.”
His chances of making it to the 2010 World Cup have been increased by news that Alessandro Nesta has turned down a return to international duty.
“Nesta is not up for debate. I just try to do my best game after game and then see what happens.”
Bari are one of the few sides to have avoided defeat against Inter twice this season and Bonucci kept Samuel Eto'o quiet.
“Eto'o is a real champion and I am sure the way he is playing that the goals will arrive for Inter.”
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