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Piola 50
BERLIN - Olimpic Stadion
Group C kicked off with a dour game. One for the tactical connoisseurs rather than a real spectacle. Italy have for decades been a bogie team for Spain. The Spaniards feel that in the league and at international level they play the beautiful game while Italy smothers the game in defensive tactics. To make it worse, Spain can look back on numerous encounters where, no matter what happens, Italy always seemed to get the result they needed, no matter how undeserved. A prime example is the 1994 World Cup Quarter final, when Mauro Tassotti elbowed Luis Enrique in the face, in the penalty area, in injury time. Enrique reportedly lost a pint of blood but the referee did not give the penalty.
Italy coach Pozzo knew all this and made sure his side preyed upon their opponents’ mental block. Suffocating space in midfield, defending deep and not afraid to make tactical fouls to halt any promising Spanish attacks, they simply ground down their Latin rivals. Romeo Benetti tracked Luis Suarez everywhere, while Ciro Ferrara, Paulo Maldini and Giuseppe Bergomi comfortably dealt with Gento, Butragueno and Zarra.
Just after half time Italy finally broke forward, catching their opponents off-guard. Giuseppe Meazza broke past Guardiola, and found Maldini on the overlap. His cross was intercepted by Hierro but from Gianni Rivera’s corner, Silvio Piola rose high for a good old-fashioned centre forward’s header.
After that, Italy retreated into their shell, happy to hit an increasing desperate Spain on the counter. Hierro pushed into midfield and was his usual commanding self, but could not fashion an equaliser.
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