Friendly matches pre-World Cup 2010: Italy-Netherland 0-0

2010 World Cup South Africa: only a draw for Italy and Netherland in the first of the two friendly matches pre-World Cup 2010.

Italy – Netherland: in Pescara, the Coach Lippi line up the “Azzurri” with a 4-2-3-1. Antonio Candreva debùt for the first time in the national team. Together with him the comeback of Raffaele Palladino from Genoa. In the first half the match is substantially balanced: Netherland plays well with the ball and control the game, but Italy is fast in breakaway. Netherland has the best occasion of the first half: Kuyt shoot with the right foot and the ball goes very close to the goal. Palladino (who didn’t have a good start) answer to Kuyt with no success. In the second half Italy is more aggressive. Camoranesi, Rossi and Pazzini have good chances, and the last one scores, but with the hand, and the referee revokes the goal. The match finishes 0-0, a good match for both the teams.

Italy is going to meet Sweden next wednesday in Cesena.

The results of the today’s friendly matches:

* Italy – Netherland: 0-0
* Brazil – England: 1-0
* Spain – Argentina: 2-1
* South Africa – Japan: 0-0
* Slovakia – USA: 1-0
* Switzerland – Norway: 0-1
* Northern Ireland – Serbia: 0-1
* Denmark – North Corea: 0-0

• 2010 World Cup Qualifying results and fixtures.
• 2010 World Cup Qualifying groups standings.
• Calendar and results – World Cup 2010
• Groups and Standings – World Cup 2010
• World Cup Winners List.
• News on World Cup 2010.
• World Cup Ball.