Luca Toni repaid the faith shown in him by coach Marcello Lippi by scoring twice in Italy’s 3-0 win over Ukraine in the World Cup quarterfinals on Friday.
The victory sealed a place in the last four of the tournament, where they will meet hosts Germany, a repeat of the 1982 final.
Italy won that match 3-1 and were crowned world champions for a third time.
Toni’s double against Ukraine vindicated Lippi’s decision to stick by the Fiorentina striker, whose goals were his first in Germany.
”It was important that Lippi kept his confidence in me,” said Toni, Serie A’s leading scorer last season with 31 goals.
”I have to thank him for giving me this chance, especially as not many people still had faith in me. It’s a wonderful moment for me.”
Toni admitted he had been feeling pressure having failed to find the net in the three group-stage matches and in the second-round game against Australia.
”I was the only forward yet to score, so I’m relieved to end my bad run. Now I hope I can go on and score even more important goals.”
Italy’s defence has let in just one goal, an own goal at that, in their five matches, and Toni said that was down to the whole team, not just the back four.
”Everybody is willing to track back and work hard for each other,” he said.
”That’s the secret of this team, there’s a great spirit.”
Gianluca Zambrotta put Italy ahead with a left-footed drive in the sixth minute, before Toni headed home Francesco Totti’s left-wing cross near the hour mark.
Toni tapped in Zambrotta’s cutback in the 69th minute to end Ukraine’s first World Cup adventure as Italy extended their unbeaten run to 23 internationals.
Lippi had predicted Toni was going to have a good day in front of goal.
He said: ”He’s been getting closer and closer in each game and I told him this morning: ‘You know what, you’re going to score twice today’ [Friday]. I’m very proud of him.”
Lippi dedicated the win to former Juventus player and current team manager Gianluca Pessotto, who is in a serious condition in hospital after an apparent suicide attempt.
”This is for Gianluca Pessotto,” said Lippi, who coached Pessotto at Juve.
”We are close to him and his family and hope he can soon come back to celebrate with us.
Pessotto played for Italy 22 times. — AFP
