Italy survive Dane assault

Much had been made of Trapattoni's inclusion of the talented trio of Totti, Vieri and del Piero, as Italy went into the game with an uncharacteristically attacking set-up.

But it was the Danes took the initiative early on, with Tomasson having a penalty shout turned down before Rommedahl cut in from the wing with intent, only to see Fabio Cannavaro throw himself in the way of a well-struck shot.

Despite the searing heat, the Italians barely warmed to their task.

A ferocious Totti free-kick from an outrageous distance, which forced a fine tip round from Thomas Sorensen, their only goalbound effort as the mobility of the Danes pinned the Italians on the back foot.

Such was the fluidity of the Scandinavians' movement, right-back Thomas Helveg found himself in a position to unleash a twenty-five yard effort which Gianluigi Buffon punched clear, before flashing a half-volley narrowly wide.

But both sides could have edged in front in a frenetic last-minute finale to the half.

Del Piero - latching onto a Vieri knock-down - smashed goalward from close range, Sorensen parried away, only to see Totti swivel and fire in the rebound - somehow the Aston Villa keeper reacted to stick out a hand and block.

Rommedahl raced away and, with Italy stretched, Udinese's Martin Jörgensen mishit a shot which called Buffon into action again.

But a half-time chat from the Trap saw Italy emerge with renewed belief.

Gianluca Zambrotta - pinned in his own half by the rampant Rommedahl in the first half - began raiding down the Italian left reducing Rommedahl's effectiveness, the left back's 56th-minute hanging cross allowing Vieri to muscle in a powerful header which brought Sorensen into spectacular action once again.

But despite the arrival of Antonio Cassano and Stefano Fiore, the Danes regained the upper hand and Italy barely escaped going behind with fifteen minutes to go.

Substitute Claus Jensen's powerful run to the edge of the box saw the Danes flood into the heart of the usually watertight Italian rearguard.

The Charlton man was alert enough to cut back for the lurking Tomasson, whose first-time strike from the edge of the box was deflected wide to Rommedahl who fired across goal from a tight angle - the ricochet off the lunging Alessandro Nesta flying fortunately wide from the onrushing attackers.

Totti had a final chance to claim the game for Italy three minutes from full-time, taking an invitingly positioned free-kick which he himself had won, but fired wastefully over from twenty-five yards.

The Roma playmaker - who had a disappointing game - then allowed his frustration to boil over, lucky to escape a red card for an X-rated high challenge on Rene Henriksen, from which the Dane was fortunate to emerge unscathed.