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Euro 2000 Roundup Defensive Italy stands out in attacking tournament
Posted: Friday June 30, 2000 04:40 PM ROTTERDAM , Netherlands (AP) -- The future of European soccer was looking so good with goals galore, as teams played wide-open games ending with scores like 4-3 and 6-1. Then a 40-year-old ghost came back to put a damper on the proceedings. It's called "Catenaccio" and is casting a cloud over the final weekend of the European Championship. "Catenaccio" -- "chain," in Italian -- is the term used to describe Italy's penchant for packing its defense to handcuff opponents while escaping with low-scoring victories. And boring many fans in the process. "Italy is still Italy with its 'catenaccio.' We have seen a lot of goals in this (tournament). Italy has scored few and I hope it will be an open final and that Italy will approach the match by playing with some attacking ideas," said midfielder Emmanuel Petit, whose World Cup champion French team faces Italy in Sunday's final. The more Italy comes under attack for its style of play, the more it seems to flourish. The Azzurri won their semifinal against the host Dutch 3-1 on penalty kicks after battling through 120 minutes of scoreless play. "I am proud of this team for pulling out such a tough performance under adversity," Italy coach Dino Zoff said Friday, when he gave his players a day off. Brazilian great Pele said Italy will always be Italy. "This is a strong tradition and we have to respect that. Dino told me 'Well, one has to play with whatever one has.'" French coach Roger Lemerre has Zinedine Zidane. France usually employs three defensive midfielders, freeing Zidane from defensive responsibilities. That allows him to run the attack with pinpoint passing and score the occasional goal, too. Zidane's free kick lifted France to a 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Spain, and his penalty in overtime beat Portugal on Wednesday in the semifinals. "Zidane is clearly No. 1," Pele said, "and he makes the difference." French players went back to light training Friday having enjoyed an additional day to prepare for the final.
Dutch arrestsMore than 100 rampaging soccer fans were arrested after the Dutch team was knocked out of the European championships in a tense overtime shootout, police said Friday. Fans smashed windows, looted storefronts and taunted riot police after the tournament co-hosts went down 3-1 to Italy on penalty kicks Thursday night, police spokesman Peter Ballion said. Police charged crowds with horses and dogs in Amsterdam and The Hague after frustrated fans started pelting security forces. Police had to call in reinforcements to restore order. The worst unrest erupted in the eastern city of Nijmegen, where 22 people were detained after they shattered department store windows and looted merchandise, the spokesman said. He added that police had restored order an hour after the match. "People were a little frustrated and drunk," Ballion said. "But in general the police had the situation very quickly under control with our zero tolerance policy." The Dutch lost a game they had dominated from start to finish. The match was watched by 11 million people -- more than two-thirds of the population -- desperately hoping for a first major international title in 14 years. Italy faces France in Sunday's final.
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