Miccoli Freezes Fins

International Friendly - 17/11/04 (20.30)
Italy 1 - 0 Finland
Miccoli 33 (I)
Stadio San Filippo, Messina

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Fabrizio Miccoli's audacious free kick gave an experimental Azzurri side victory over Finland, while Vincenzo Montella rattled the crossbar on his comeback.

There were six new faces in the squad Marcello Lippi named for this friendly match, although only three made their debut from the start. They were Udinese midfielder Stefano Mauri, Messina fullback Alessandro Parisi and ex-Under-21 international Andrea Barzagli - who partnered his Palermo teammate Cristian Zaccardo in defence. Marco Materazzi wore the captain's armband as the most experienced player in the side.

It was a particularly special occasion for Parisi, who became the first Messina player to wear the Azzurri jersey and made his debut in front of his home fans. Nonetheless, there weren't too many to cheer him on, as the Stadio San Filippo was half-empty.

The first shot on goal came from Luca Toni, who gathered Mauro Esposito's pass and spun round his marker, but saw his shot smothered by Bolton star Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Palermo hitman Toni was again on show soon after when he just failed to latch on to Fabrizio Miccoli's floated pass and the goalkeeper was able to clear.

Ivan Pelizzoli had to make the toughest early save, as after 17 minutes he fingertipped Nurmela's deflected low drive round the near post.

The deadlock was finally broken with a moment of magic from Fabrizio Miccoli. Mauri was brought down out wide just a couple of yards from the corner flag, but the Fiorentina forward curled in a free kick from this almost impossible angle at the near post with Jaaskelainen left looking rather foolish.

Italy nearly doubled their lead moments later when Miccoli's cross found Toni's glancing header, but the goalkeeper got a hand to it and there was nobody to take full advantage of the loose ball.

Finland fought back and Lecce midfielder Aleksei Eremenko curled a free kick just over the crossbar, but Italy had the better of the first half and Miccoli's shot from inside the box was deflected off Toni's heel and almost caught Jaaskelainen off-guard.

Lippi made a number of half-time changes, as Giorgio Chiellini, Aimo Diana and Vincenzo Montella came on in place of Parisi, Esposito and Miccoli. It was the Roma striker's return to the international scene for the first time since Oct 16 2002, while Fiorentina defender Chiellini was making his senior debut after a successful spell with the Under-21 side.

Within 60 seconds of stepping on to the field, Sampdoria midfielder Diana fired wide of the target, then Toni just failed to redirect Daniele De Rossi's cross past Jaaskelainen.

Eremenko combined with Jari Litmanen and Pelizzoli timed his run well to pluck the ball off the ex-Ajax man's foot.

Montella nearly marked his return with a spectacular bicycle-kick, but it drifted inches wide of the woodwork. Chiellini found space down the left and his cross towards Toni was intercepted.

Palermo midfielder Simone Barone replaced De Rossi on the hour mark, leaving four Rosanero players on the pitch.

Italy really should have doubled their lead on 65 minutes when Toni dribbled past a couple of defenders only to lose sight of the target and roll across for Montella, but the Roma man's first time strike was touched on to the crossbar by Jaaskelainen.

Another Under-21 alumni, Brescia's Andrea Caracciolo, took over from Toni for Italy's fifth debut of the game. He had a good chance with 11 minutes to go, but his diving header on Chiellini's cross was just wide.

The Azzurri thought they had earned a deserved second goal in the final stages, but Diana's strike was correctly disallowed for offside after he had turned in the loose ball from a save on Baronio.

Pelizzoli made a late but none too complicated save on Okkonen's header, but Montella was repeatedly caught offside.