</line> <line count="2" minutes="Italy team" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Buffon, Zambrotta, Panucci, Chiellini, Grosso, Pirlo, De Rossi, Gattuso, Toni, Perrotta, Cassano ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="3" minutes="France team" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Coupet, Clerc, Gallas, Abidal, Evra, Govou, Toulalan, Makelele, Ribery, Benzema, Henry ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="4" minutes="Team news" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ France are certainly going for this, with Karim Benzema named up front alongside Thierry Henry in a side offering width in the shape of Franck Ribery and Sidney Govou. Lilian Thuram is out of the side, as is Willy Sagnol, with Francois Clerc and Eric Abidal coming into the side.For the Italians. Antonio Cassano gets the nod alongside Luca Toni. Alessandro Del Piero has to settle for a spot on the bench. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="5" minutes="1 - Kick-off" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Italy, all in white, get the game under way in steady rain. Let me know how you think this one will go by clicking the FEEDBACK link or emailing me - Dave.Tickner@bskyb.com - and I'll publish as many of your predictions as I can. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="6" minutes="2 - Bright start" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ France are first out of the blocks, Ribery winning a corner via a deflected 25-yard shot. He takes the corner himself, and it's cleared. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="7" minutes="3 - Handbags" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ France win another corner, and the ref holds up play to deal with some pushing and shoving in the penalty area. The corner flashes across the Italy area and away to safety. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="8" minutes="4 - What a miss!" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Italy should be one up here afer Abidal - brought in in place of Thuram - fails to deal with a routine ball over the top. Toni is clear but goes for goal early and shoots wide. He could have taken at least one more touch there, and really should have done far better. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="9" minutes="8 - Injury" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Nasty-looking one for Ribery. He goes over on his right ankle and is in serious pain. His match is over, and maybe his tournament. Big blow for the French in the opening minutes. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="10" minutes="10 - Substitution" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Arsenal target Samir Nasri is the man coming on, as Ribery is stretchered away. Let's hope that injury's not as bad as it looked. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="11" minutes="11 - Close" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ It's a frenetic start to this game. Italy have a corner, and Panucci gets his head to it. But Claude Makelele does his job on the post and blocks. France hack the ball clear, but they've had a couple of scares now. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="12" minutes="14 - Predictions" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ There's been barely a moment to get these in, but thanks for your contributions. Anne Burnett sends a cheery greeting from Hawaii and tips Les Bleus to come through 2-1. Arjun Dixit is also going for 2-1, but isn't sure whether it'll be to France or Italy. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="13" minutes="15 - Blood bin" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Daniele de Rossi has to leave the field to have a bloody nose tidied up, but he's soon back on the field. His white shirt is no longer as pristine as it once was. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="14" minutes="18 - Romania update" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ It's still goalless between Holland and Romania in the night's other game so, as things stand, both these teams are out of the competition. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="15" minutes="21 - Almost" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Andrea Pirlo's deft ball plays in Simone Perrotta, but his first touch lets him down and the ball runs through to Gregory Coupet. Perrotta really should have done better there after being superbly picked out. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="16" minutes="24 - Penalty!" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Toni brings the ball down beautifully and is bundled over by Abidal as he prepares to shoot. Not huge contact, but enough. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="17" minutes="25 - Red card" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ It gets worse for France: Abidal is sent off for the foul, which I have to say looks harsh. But clear goalscoring opportunity and all that. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="18" minutes="25 - GOAL!" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Pirlo slams the penalty high to Coupet's left and Italy lead. Great penalty. France, meanwhile, sacrifice Nasri to bring on Jean-Alain Boumsong. A short appearance for Nasri, who only came on when Ribery was injured. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="19" minutes="27 - Space" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ There's already more space for Italy to work with, and Perrotta tees up the onrushing De Rossi 30 yards from goal, but he lashes the ball over the bar. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="20" minutes="28 - Another chance" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ France need to dig deep here to stay in this. De Rossi crosses this time, and Toni's overhead kick flies just wide of the target. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="21" minutes="29 - Shinner" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ A fourth chance for Toni. This one's tricky though, trying to volley Zambrotta's ball over the top but shinning it wide of the target. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="22" minutes="30 - Five" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ By my count this is Toni's fifth clear sight of Coupet's goal. He picks the ball up and turns on the edge of the area, but drags his shot tamely wide. That was one of his best chances, but he is still yet to to work Coupet. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="23" minutes="34 - Rare chance" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ France break, and Henry gets the wrong side of Giorgio Chiellini before shooting across goal and wide of the target. The angle was slightly against him. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="24" minutes="37 - Predictions" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Colin Mullen reckons Italy will win this 3-1 - just one of a string of Italy backers in recent minutes. Any of you France fans out there backing your team to turn this round? There's a chance to start the fightback here with a free-kick within shooting range. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="25" minutes="38 - Wasted" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Henry lets Benzema take it, but he drills his shot straight at the wall before lashing the rebound over the bar. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="26" minutes="43 - Great run" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ De Rossi breaks superbly from midfield before skinning Jeremy Toulalan with a superb turn. The France midfielder chops him down and Italy have a free-kick in a dangerous position. Toulalan lucky not to get bokoed there. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="27" minutes="44 - Off the post" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Grosso bends the ball towards the far corner, but the ball bounces back into play off the post and France scramble it to safety. Looking at the replays, Coupet actually got the slightest touch to that. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="28" minutes="45 - Booking" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Perrotta injures himself trying to get to the rebound from that free-kick. To whistles from the crowd, France break through Benzema while the Italian remains down on the ground. Pirlo chops Benzema down and earns a booking that will keep him out of the quarter-final should Italy get there. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="29" minutes="45+1 - Time added on" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ The free-kick is swung into the box, but Buffon gathers. There will be three minutes added for various incidents at the end of this astonishing first half. The half-time whistle has blown in the Romania-Holland match, where the score remains goalless. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="30" minutes="45+3 - Free-kick" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ The three minutes have elapsed, but France have a free-kick and one final chance to level matters before the break. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="31" minutes="45+4 - Half-time" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ The free-kick comes to nothing and the half-time whistle blows. A frantic first 45 minutes has seen France lose one of their key players to injury, had a man sent off and then fall behind to the penalty. Toni had a string of chances to put the game to bed for Italy, but France have come back into the game later in the half. Can they conjure an unlikely comeback? No-one's yet tipping them to win the game buy Sony John and Liam Kelly reckon they can at least get an equaliser. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="32" minutes="You Bet!" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Paul is predicting France to sneak it 2-1 and Holland to win 2-0. But he does admit he's only saying that because those are the results he's had a bet on. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="33" minutes="Waiting game" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Both tonight's games are being held up so the officials can ensure the two games restart at the same moment. Got to make sure there's no funny business with so much at stake. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="34" minutes="46 - Here we go" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ France get the green light to restart. Let's hope the Romania game has started promptly as well. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="35" minutes="50 - Chance for France" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Toulalan does brilliantly on the right before swinging in a low cross. Henry makes poor contact but the ball comes into the path of Benzema who rifles in a shot but just over the bar. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="36" minutes="52 - Henry goes close" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ France have started the second half brightly here, and Henry has a sight of goal on the edge of the area but scuffs the ball straight at Buffon. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="37" minutes="53 - Solo effort" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Henry trying to do this by himself for France, but after a jinking run from midfield his long-range shot is tame. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="38" minutes="54 - Suspension" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Gattuso gets a booking for a stupid foul in midfield and now he, like Pirlo, will miss the quarter-final if Italy get there. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="39" minutes="55 - Goal for Holland" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ And the chances of Italy getting there have just increased: Holland have taken the lead against Romania through Huntelaar. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="40" minutes="56 - Italians celebrate" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ News of events in Bern reaches the ground, and Italian fans are jubilant. Meanwhile, Massimo Ambrosini replaces goalscorer Pirlo. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="41" minutes="61 - Italy break" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Cassano plays in Toni, but Coupet is out of his area smartly to snuff out the threat before the Italy striker can waste another opportunity. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="42" minutes="62 - GOAL!" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Italy have breathing space now as De Rossi's free-kick from 35 yards deflects off the wall and leaves Coupet wrong-footed. Henry was the man who got the last touch, but De Rossi will claim it. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="43" minutes="63 - Change" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Mauro Camoranesi replaces Perrotta as the Italian fans start to dream of progress. That second goal came against the run of play, but it's hard to see France coming back into this now. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="44" minutes="65 - Last throw of the dice" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ France go three up front as Nicolas Anelka replaces Govou. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="45" minutes="72 - Booking" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Boumsong goes into the book for a tackle from behind on Toni in the centre-circle. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="46" minutes="73 - Still no joy for Toni" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Camoranesi's right-wing cross almost picks out Toni, but Gallas gets across to head behind for a corner. The set-piece comes to nothing. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="47" minutes="74 - Wonderful save" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Buffon preserves Italy's two-goal cushion with a superb save from Benzema. The Lyon striker's curling effort from 20 yards was bending inside the post, but Buffon flew to his left to tip it round the post. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="48" minutes="76 - Nine men" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Gallas goes down injured and, for now at least, France are down to nine men. They've made all three substitutions, so the Arsenal defender will simply have to carry on. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="49" minutes="77 - Grimace" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Gallas doesn't look too happy, but he is coming back onto the field. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="50" minutes="82 - Keep ball" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Italy are beginning to run the legs off the French now. Time is running out, and France just can't get hold of the ball. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="51" minutes="83 - Toni hits the target" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Toni finally forces Coupet into a save, but the whistle had already gone for a foul before the striker got his head to Cassano's cross. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="52" minutes="85 - Booking" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Henry picks up a harsh booking after being penalised for a superb tackle on Zambrotta. The Barcelona striker won the ball, but goes into the book. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="53" minutes="87 - Party time" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ The Italy fans seem pretty certain their team will be going through, and they're probably right: Robin van Persie has doubled Holland's lead against Romania. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="54" minutes="89 - France keep going" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ France are still pressing desperately here, but it's surely too late for them. They do get a couple of free-kicks around the Italy box but nothing comes of them. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="55" minutes="90 - Injury time" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Three added minutes to play here, but the outcome of this group is already beyond doubt. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="56" minutes="90+2 - High and wide" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Zambrotta cuts in from the right and sends a shot high into the stand behind the goal where the Italian fans are partying. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="57" minutes="90+3 - Another Toni chance" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ Toni is again clean through on goal, and again fails to hit the target. On another night, he could so easily have been the villain of the piece for Italy. ]]></text> <title/> </line> <line count="58" minutes="90+3 - It's all over" team="0" colour=""> <text><![CDATA[ The final whistle blows, and Italy have escaped the group of death. France, in truth, never really looked like getting back into the game after going behind and losing Ribery and Abidal. The French have been a huge disappointment in this tournament. ]]></text> <title/> </line> </root>