In the land renowned for its scrumptious pizza and ravioli, Bafana Bafana were forced to eat humble pie in Siena on Wednesday night while losing 2-0 to what was
effectively the Italian B team.
While the two headed goals from 32-year-old Ukraine-based Cristiano Lucarelli were a long time in coming and were only scored in the final nine minutes of regulation time, the scoreline, if anything, flattered South Africa.
The Azzurri had 11 clear-cut opportunities during the game against two by Bafana, whose defence survived for 81 minutes on what was mainly a wing and a prayer.
Bafana failed to test the Italian goalkeeper, with substitute Tera Fanteni squandering the best opportunity with the score already 2-0 during the referee’s optional time.
In the first half the South Africans displayed an admirable composure and funnelled back in defence diligently to contain an Italian side who appeared to be carrying out a series of practice routines.
The anxiety demonstrated by Italian coach Roberto Donadoni after the interval at not securing a victory seemed to rub off as Bafana’s resistance withered and the Azzurri struck the woodwork with two of their many scoring sorties.
Particularly disconcerting was the amateurish manner in which the Bafana defence tried to employ an off-side trap — in contrast to that of the calculating, disciplined Italians.
And those who naively lamented the fact that Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira only employed one outright striker, it is pertinent to point out that he was only 10 minutes or so away from securing a prized draw — and employing a more attacking formation might well have resulted in a defeat by four goals or more.
Both sides made wholesale changes during the second half, with the substitutions seemingly helping Italy as players like the seasoned Alberto Gilardino added purpose to their play — with Bafana’s replacements generally all at sea and reflecting the lack of depth in the squad. – Sapa