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Rossi 33, Tardelli 66
BERLIN – Olympic Stadion
Ireland pushed Italy all the way in their 1990 quarter final, and won a famous victory in the 1994 group stage, but today the Italians were out to show they meant business. Ruthless hard man Romeo Benetti was brought into midfield to counter Roy Keane, and Marco Tardelli kept a close watch on former Juventus team-mate Liam Brady. Ireland were reduced to knocking long balls up to Niall Quinn, but the Italian defence man-marked Quinn and Aldridge incredibly closely. With that end of the field sown up, Italy gave free reign to their forwards. Big, strong Silvio Piola was able to stand up to Ireland’s physical power, while Paolo Rossi, brought into the side ahead of Baggio, looked to pounce on knock-downs and loose balls.
When Rossi did score the first goal however, it came from an inch-perfect slide rule pass from Giuseppe Meazza. The attacking midfielder is such a legend that the so-called ‘San Siro’ in Milan is officially named ‘Stadio Giuseppe Meazza’ in his honour. Here, his vision set Rossi free and he slid the ball under Bonner.
After that Italy smothered the game, marking tightly and passing sideways and backwards rather than forward. On 65 minutes a frustrated Roy Keane finally picked up the long-awaited booking that would keep him out of the next match. He took the legs of Rivera twenty-odd yards out. The Italian had to go off injured. His replacement, Roberto Baggio, placed the ball for the free kick, and Bonner feared the worst. The Divine Ponytail was perhaps a little rusty: his first touch of the match was to curl his free kick against the bar rather than straight in. Bonner’s reprieve was short-lived however. The rebound was only partially cleared, eventually reaching Baggio again. He slalomed into the box past a crowd of defenders, who were all trying to push out. He rounded Bonner with a trademark hip-swivel, but rather than score himself, he unselfishly squared to Tardelli, who lashed the ball into the roof of the net with relish from four yards.
Again the Italians retreated into their shell, with only Baggio keen to push forward. Rossi was replaced by Scirea, who sat in front of the already formidable defence as an extra sweeper. In truth Ireland did not have the firepower to merit such caution, but perhaps coach Pozzo was planning ahead for tougher matches to come.
Liam Brady had a fantastic career in Serie A with Juventus and Inter amongst others, but he was unable to assert himself here. Benetti and co always managed to get in with a toe, a tug or a trip whenever Ireland threatened. Only in the final minute did Ireland carve a real chance, sub Robbie Keane juggling his way past Baresi only to blast over as Zoff and Maldini closed him down.
Italy, traditional slow-starters at tournaments, had ominously qualified with a game to spare. Ireland were all but out, and would have to tackle Spain without captain Keane.
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