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Croatian revival Italy fumes over disallowed goals in defeatPosted: Saturday June 08, 2002 5:00 AMUpdated: Saturday June 08, 2002 11:31 AM
IBARAKI, Japan (Reuters) -- Two late goals in four minutes gave Croatia a surprise 2-1 win over Italy in World Cup group G on Saturday -- but the Italians were convinced they were robbed of victory by having two goals disallowed. Italy thought they had grabbed an injury time equaliser but the effort was ruled out by a linesman, apparently for a foul by Filippo Inzaghi. The same official had also disallowed a 50th minute Christian Vieri goal through offside as Italy followed competition big guns France, Portugal and Argentina to fall to upset defeats in a World Cup full of shocks so far. Afterwards, Vieri raged: "Those weren't division one or even division two referees, they were village referees...Now we absolutely must win against Mexico." (Italy considers referee complaint)
New cup favorites Italy had led through a Vieri header in the 55th minute and looked to be heading for their second straight win in the finals before a stirring, late Croat revival. Substitute striker Ivica Olic pulled the Croats level in the 73rd minute before midfielder Milan Rapaic stunned the Italians four minutes later, throwing group G wide open. Italy, Mexico and Croatia, third in the 1998 World Cup, all have three points ahead of Sunday's game between Mexico and Ecuador. The last time Italy lost in normal time in the finals was their first game of the 1994 World Cup when they lost 1-0 to Ireland. They still went on to reach the final where they lost on penalties to Brazil. Saturday's defeat also ruined Italy hopes of equalling Brazil's record of 13 consecutive finals matches without defeat. Croatia coach Mirko Jozic said: "It was diehard football against a tough Italian team. I am glad my players just how I asked them to. "All I can do is point out the heart of my players, they were sport heroes in tonight's match. In the last 20 minutes we had three injured players and I didn't know what to do. "They were dying for each other on the pitch." Gain initiative Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni was forced to reorganize when central defender Alessandro Nesta suffered what appeared to be a foot injury in the 24th minute and was replaced by Marco Materazzi. The Croats took advantage of the change to gain the initiative with Zvonimir Soldo going close with a low drive. Just two minutes after coming on Materazzi was then forced to clear off the line after Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon could only get one hand on a shot from Davor Vugrinec who had linked up well with Milan Rapaic. Vugrinec and Rapaic, both drafted in after Croatia's poor showing in their 1-0 opening game defeat to Mexico were begining to cause problems for the Italians and Rapaic forced another save out of Buffon just before the break. But the Italians reasserted themselves after the break with Vieri claiming his eighth goal in seven matches in the finals outjumping Josip Simunic to head home at the back post.
But this time the Italians failed to defend their lead. Substitute Olic brought things level when he slid in a cross from Robert Jarni. Then Rapaic beat Materazzi and Paolo Maldini and fired in a shot which was headed out by Christian Panucci -- the ball was played back into Rapaic whose hooked shot took a slight deflection and beat a stranded Buffon. Three minutes from time Francesco Totti rapped the inside of the post from a 25-metre free kick but the ball ran across the Croatian goal before being cleared. Italy have now failed to beat Croatia in a competitive match in three meetings, losing once and drawing once in qualifying for the 1996 European Championships. Inzaghi left out by ItalyIn a surprise last-minute change, Italian striker Filippo Inzaghi was not in the starting lineup against Croatia on Saturday, although veteran defender Paolo Maldini was, a day after twisting his ankle in practice. Coach Giovanni Trapattoni had said this week that Inzaghi would start in attack with AS Roma playmaker Francesco Totti and burly Inter Milan attacker Christian Vieri. But with Maldini at less than full strength, Trapattoni was apparently opting to bolster the defense. Another surprise was Cristiano Zanetti, who was starting in place of Luigi Di Biagio, who apparently hurt his neck in training. Left midfielder Cristiano Doni, who didn't play exceptionally well in Italy's 2-0 victory over Ecuador on Monday, also got the start. Totti and Vieri will make up the attack, as they did against Ecuador. Vieri and Totti teamed up well in the last match, with Vieri putting in both goals. As for Croatia, it was starting without two stars from its stunning 1998 World Cup, when it came third. Davor Suker, the tournament's leading goalscorer in '98, as well as experienced midfielder Robert Prosinecki were both left out of the starting lineup after weak performances in the team's opening 1-0 loss against Mexico. Forward Alen Boksic of Middlesbrough will fill in for Suker, while Milan Rapaic of Turkey's Fenerbahce was taking over from Prosinecki. SummaryItaly 1 Croatia 2 - result World Cup, group G Scorers: Italy - Christian Vieri 55 Croatia - Ivica Olic 73, Milan Rapaic 76 Yellow cards: Italy - Christian Vieri 51 Croatia - Robert Kovac 39 Halftime: 0-0; Attendance: 36,472 Teams: Italy: 1-Gianluigi Buffon; 2-Christian Panucci, 5-Fabio Cannavaro, 13-Alessandro Nesta (23-Marco Materazzi 23), 3-Paolo Maldini; 19-Gianluca Zambrotta, 6-Cristiano Zanetti, 17-Damiano Tommasi, 11-Cristiano Doni (9-Filippo Inzaghi 79); 10-Francesco Totti, 21-Christian Vieri. Croatia: 1-Stipe Pletikosa; 15-Daniel Saric, 21-Robert Kovac, 3-Josip Simunic, 17-Robert Jarni; 4-Stjepan Tomas, 14-Zvonimir Soldo (16-Jurica Vranjes 63), 10-Niko Kovac, 7-Davor Vugrinec (18-Ivica Olic 57), 5-Milan Rapaic (20-Dario Simic 79), 11-Alen Boksic. Match referee: Graham Poll (England) Linesmen : Egon Bereuter (Austria), Ali Tomusange (Uganda)
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