Minute by Minute: France - Italy

Soccerway - 17 June 2008 20:17

Italy will look to Antonio Cassano to get them through

ZURICH, Jun 17 (SW) - Group C of Euro 2008 climaxes on Tuesday as France and Italy square off in Zurich in a rematch of the 2006 World Cup final. SoccerWay keeps you up to date as both sides look to stave off elimination.

Current score: <b>0-2</b>

More match information: <a href="http://www.soccerway.com/match/european-championships/france/italy/529763/">Here</a>.

For updates on Netherlands-Romania, click <a href="http://www.soccerway.com/news/2008/June/17/minute-by-minute-netherlands---romania">here</a>.

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FULL-TIME: Italy are into the quarter-finals against Spain and France are left to prepare for World Cup qualifying with Romania.

Minute 90+3: Toni has missed a lot of chances tonight, but he misses another here. Could have been a nice way for him to wrap it up.

NED-ROU update: Truly that's it now for Group C as the Dutch are up 2-0 on Romania thanks to Robin van Persie who scores his second of the tournament.

Minute 86: Camoranesi comes close to the third for Italy. His shot deflects off a French defender away from the target. Corner kick to Italy.

Minute 85: And another booking yet, this time for Henry for a challenge on Zambrotta.

Minute 82: Gattuso, suspended for the quarter-finals, is replaced by Alberto Aquilani, making his first appearance of the tournament.

Minute 74: France stay off the scoreboard thanks to Buffon. Great shot by Benzema from outside the area, but the Italian goalkeeper makes a fantastic diving stop.

Minute 72: Booking for Boumsong. Tensions have been high in this match, and it's been reflected in the 6 cautions and one dismissal.

Minute 66: Another change coming here, this the final one for France. Govou is off with Nicolas Anelka coming on.

Minute 64: Simone Perrotta is taken off for Italy, with Mauro Camoranesi taking his place.

Minute 62: <b>GOAL ITALY (0-2) DANIELE DE ROSSI</b> scores on a free kick from 30 yards out after it takes a deflection off of Henry in the wall.

Minute 61: Coupet has to come out of the area and play the ball away with Toni bearing down on him.

Minute 55: Pirlo is now off with Massimo Ambrosini coming on.

NED-ROU update: More good news for Italy as Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has put the Netherlands in front in Bern. 1-0 to the Dutch.

Minute 54: Gattuso catches a booking now and he too will miss out on any quarter-final action.

Minute 53: Another effort by Henry, this one from distance, takes a deflection before rolling on harmlessly to Buffon.

Minute 52: Henry turns on a weak shot in the area and it rolls right into the arms of a waiting Buffon.

Minute 50: Volley attempt by Benzema goes just high of the target after Henry's attempted shot falls back to him outside of the area.

Minute 47: Another booking now for France with Govou cautioned for a studs-up tackle on Cassano.

Minute 46: Back underway in Zurich with France needing something special.

HALF-TIME: We've reached half-time and it's all gone Italy's way. Eric Abidal sent off and Andrea Pirlo converting the subsequent penalty. Not to mention the injury to Franck Ribéry, and it's all gone wrong for France. Italy have one foot in the door, with Romania still 0-0 with Holland.

Minute 45+4: Another booking for Italy, this one to Chiellini for coming through Henry to get to the ball, studs up.

Minute 44: Pirlo goes into the book now for a late tackle on Benzema and that's crushing for Italy because he would miss the quarter-finals should they get there.

Minute 44: Fabio Grosso lines up a left-footed free kick from 20 yards out and curls around the wall...but onto the post! Coupet got ever so slight a touch onto it. So nearly two for Italy.

Minute 38: The free kick from 26 yards is taken by Benzema right into the wall. Never had a chance.

Minute 37: Free kick in a dangerous area here for France as Henry is taken down by Gennaro Gattuso.

Minute 34: Thierry Henry has a great opportunity for France. Ball slides into his path, but the striker drags it just across the face of the far post.

Minute 30: Toni again for Italy missing a chance, turning and hitting another shot wide of the target.

Minute 30: Pirlo plays in a great ball for Toni, but the striker's first-time effort is wide. France are in a shambles now.

Minute 28: Toni has a flick on goal with his back to the target and just puts it past the post. What a goal that would have been.

Minute 28: Daniele De Rossi has a crack at goal from 30 yards, and it's a fantastic effort that just rises high of the goal. France are well up against it now.

Minute 26: Already the second switch for France. Nasri has to come back off to put a defender back on in place of Abidal. It's Jean-Alain Boumsong to take his place.

Minute 25: <b>GOAL ITALY (0-1) ANDREA PIRLO</b> slots it home with precision and Italy lead it here.

Minute 24: Penalty to Italy! Abidal pulls down Toni in the area and is sent off! France down to 10 men and Italy with a chance to go in front!

Minute 22: Pirlo touches it forward for Cassano, but the touch lets him down as Coupet takes it.

Minute 19: Sidney Govou had options on either side of him for France, but he chooses to go at it himself but whistles it well wide. Henry and Clerc were there with him.

Minute 18: Referee Lubos Michel has pulled out his book for the first time in the game, Patrice Evra cautioned for a studs-up tackle on Antonio Cassano.

Minute 15: Karim Benzema has a go from the edge of the area, but he lacks a bit of power on the shot and drags it just wide of the post. Gianluigi Buffon had it covered in any event.

Minute 11: Header by Christian Panucci after a set piece forces a nice save out of Grégory Coupet.

Minute 10: Samir Nasri is ready to come on. Ribéry's day is done after less than 10 minutes.

Minute 8: Ribéry is down grasping his calf after a foul on Gianluca Zambrotta and the cart is on its way out. This could be bad news for France.

Minute 4: Should have been the opener for Italy! A long clearance from Giorgio Chiellini falls to Luca Toni who tries to hit it on the half-volley rather than control it, and it sizzles wide of the post.

Minute 2: Shot by Franck Ribéry at the top of the area is blocked out for an early French corner kick. That effort is cleared away.

Kickoff: Let the games begin! High tension likely to reign supreme here today.

Pre-Game: If you want to keep your focus here, we will provide updates from the other match in this group from Bern between the Netherlands and Romania.

Pre-Game: For Raymond Domenech and France, there are three changes to the side that was hammered 4-1 by the Dutch. Eric Abidal is in the center of defense for Lilian Thuram, François Clerc sees his first action at right-back for Willy Sagnol, and Florent Malouda is withdrawn for Karim Benzema.

Pre-Game: Italy manager Roberto Donadoni makes just two switches from the team that drew 1-1 with Romania as Gennaro Gattuso returns to the team in place of Mauro Camoranesi and Antonio Cassano goes from the start in attack with Alessandro Del Piero relegated to the bench.

Pre-Game: Both Italy and France will make it to the quarter-finals with a victory and if Romania drop points against the Netherlands. If Romania win, both of these teams would be eliminated. If Italy and France draw and Romania lose to the Dutch, then goal difference and other permutations would come into play to determine which of the three would go through with Holland. In fact, Romania can still get through with a loss provided the result here is a 0-0 draw. We will be sure to keep you posted.