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Lippi´s Italy break unbeaten record

19 November 2008 23:20

Italy´s Vincenzo Iaquinta (L) and Greece´s Traianos Dellas look at a high ball during their friendly football game at the Karaiskaki stadium in Piraeus, near Athens. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.

PIRAEUS, Greece (AFP) - Italy coach Marcello Lippi on Wednesday broke Vittorio Pozzo's record of 30 consecutive matches without defeat as the Italians came away from Karaiskaki Stadium with a hard fought 1-1 draw against Greece.

The reigning world champions needed a goal from 31-year-old Bayern Munich striker Luca Toni to force the draw when in the 54th minute he headed home after a perfect free kick from teammate Daniele De Rossi.

Four minutes earlier the Greeks had taken a 1-0 lead when second half substitute Fanis Gekas scored from up close after taking a pass from Alexandros Tziolis who cleverly split the Italian defense.

It was the first time that Greece had scored against Italy since 1981.

With both teams using a number of new players, the match had very few outstanding plays which failed to excite the small crowd of 8,000.

The few times that the visitors had scoring opportunities they were swept away by Panathinaikos' keeper Alexandros Tzorvas who was making his debut.

In the first half, the Italians had an ideal chance to open the scoring when 21-year-old Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi missed from up close in the ninth minute after a mix-up in the Greek defence.

A shot by Rossi in the 45th minute from just outside the penalty area had Tzorvas making a diving save. Italy had a final chance to claim victory in the 58th minute when a shot by Mauro Camoranesi was tipped away by Tzorvas.

Comments (22)

Tontodonati

19 November 2008 23:27

Great goal by Luca Toni, and congratulations to Marcello Lippi for having broken Vittorio Pozzo unbeaten run. 1-1 tie in Greece is nothing to write home about, nevertheless it's a positive step toward our 5th WC victory in RSA 2010.

Joga_Bonito

19 November 2008 23:28

Joga_Bonito November 19th, 2008 23:23

I would laugh at Italy if this was the same Greece at the EURO 2008....but this is the Greece at the top of their qualification group is it not?

I expect Italy to be better still...

BUT What Does This Article Have To Do With The Chinese Team Guangdong-Dongguan?

AND Where is the article about Egypt's nice 5-1 win today? COME ON Soccerway....

DaJohnner

19 November 2008 23:47

1-1 will do for a friendly, still doubt the Coppa win in 2010 though.

Tontodonati

20 November 2008 00:07

DaJohnner, I did say that 1-1 against Greece is nothing to write home about, but you know that you can't dismiss Italy so quickly when you're talking about winning the "Coppa del Mondo."

You're Canadian, so I'm not going to argue with you because, as you know, I love Canada and I rightfully am a Canadian also. Canada has been very good to me. God bless Canada!

SoccerwayHooligan

20 November 2008 06:32

HOLLAND 3 ITALY 0 BABY!!!!

SoccerwayHooligan

20 November 2008 06:33

HUP HOLLAND HUP!

tim_azzuri

20 November 2008 07:00

Great to see Luca back for Italy....

If only we could have won it....

Giorgio

20 November 2008 07:25

SoccerwayHooligan,

I see you're still celebrating Holland's 3-0 win over Italy in the 2008 Euro Championships. As you know that was Holland's first win against Italy in 30 years.

And keep on celebrating my friend, because it'll take another 30 years before Holland beat Italy again.

BesTalentScout

20 November 2008 12:20

how could Italy has a 30 game unbeaten record when they lost in the Euro ???????

Giorgio, you of all people should know Italy no longer as awesome as they were in the early 90's...............

the massive influx of foreign players has greatly reduced the number of talented local players.

Giorgio

20 November 2008 12:47

BesTalent,

With all due respects, Italy won the World Cup in 2006, it is currently 3rd in the FIFA ranking and it's always been in the top 3, since the end of the WC.

Regardless of what your personal perception may be about the Italian national team, Italy is and has always been one of the top 3 national soccer teams in the world.

And Italy's 30 match unbeaten record refers to Lippi, i.e. Italy has been unbeaten for more than 30 matches under Lippi's tenure.

Cinelli44

20 November 2008 17:10

to BesTalentScout donadoni was managing in the Euro, not Marcello Lippi. its his 30 game streak, not italy's

Tontodonati

20 November 2008 21:24

cinelly44, don't waist your time on Bes Talent Scout because it's like washing the head of pig. Scout is a very good kid, but just a bit dummy. I've elevated him to Latrine Janitor for our Diavoli Rossonery Club's dressing room. He's doing a great job!

Joga_Bonito

20 November 2008 23:38

Oh don't get me started on those shit fifa world rankings that is no way to judge a team.

Tontodonati

21 November 2008 00:30

Joga_Bonito, obviously you know the best way to judge a team! Perhaps you meant a national team, right?

Joga_Bonito

21 November 2008 13:00

Well this isn't a club discussion thread....

Tontodonati

21 November 2008 14:16

Joga_Bonito, yes, your right! This article is about "Club Italy" with Marcello Lippi as the coach

hollyice

21 November 2008 14:25

I think this is a critical situation for Lippi , his team has the world record of draws , it's really difficult to beat a team which defend 90 minutes and wait penalties .

Tontodonati

21 November 2008 14:51

Italy doesn't wait for penalties because they have lost on penalty shootout every time but one!

tim_azzuri

22 November 2008 08:07

holyice....Italy dont wait for penalties....

saw the semi final of wc2006??

hollyice

22 November 2008 15:24

2006 ?? Well yeah , I remember Italy draw against the United States , and then a controversial win against Australia in the 95th minute , then again in won extra time against Germany , and I think against France they played extra time too and played last quarter in defense against their 10 men and won by penalties . Absolutely the most boring final I have ever seen ....To me Italian team was dead in 82 , after they won european championship 80 and wc 82 .

Let me compare Spain and Italy since 1 year ago november 21 to november 21 :

Italy played 14 games and won 7

Spain played 18 and won 18

Hopefully you understand my english , if not just look the numbers ..Thanks !!

Giorgio

22 November 2008 15:47

Hollyice,

Every time you post a message on this blog I have to consult the Concise Pidgin English Dictionary, which I bought recently to help me decipher your messages.

And regardless of what you think, Italy has won 4 World Cups and Spain has won nothing. And don't let this year's win in the Euro Championships go to your head my friend, because Spain has never been a major power in World Soccer, and it never will be.

hollyice

22 November 2008 17:02

Well , I listen too much to commentators maybe I am using a lot their jargon ;)

So tell me which word you didn't understand ? Maybe the numbers ? I meant we won 18 games of 18 played ....and Italy won 7 of 14 played ..Is it difficult to understand??

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