Brad Morgan
19 October 2007
Under coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, a list of challenging international friendlies has been arranged for Bafana Bafana, and on Wednesday evening in Siena the South African national team faced one of its stiffest challenges, a clash against world number one Italy.
The Azzurri's coach Roberto Donadoni, with his team busy in a tightly-contested qualifying competition for a place at Euro 2008, opted to use the game as an opportunity to see what some of his country's most promising players are capable of at international level, by handing out a number of new caps.
Although the Italians were missing some household names, it was by no means a weak Italian team; Italy has a strong football tradition and enviable depth.
Parreira had selected his strongest possible side for the game, saying he would not be tinkering much with Bafana Bafana as he turns his focus to the African Cup of Nations in Ghana next year.
Good
start
In Siena, South Africa began the game well, moving the ball confidently around the midfield, but the Italians are masters of defence and breaking through their well-organised ranks proved difficult for the visitors.
Coach Parreira's decision to use only a single striker meant Bafana Bafana had difficulty penetrating in the final quarter of the field, and thus it was that they made only two shots on goal the entire contest.
SA showed good composure during the first 45 minutes, maintaining patience on attack, and working well together when they had to defend. Italy, meanwhile didn't show much urgency in their play.
Italian urgency
The teams went into the break with the score at nil-nil. However, it appeared, when the sides returned, that Italian coach Donadoni had delivered a motivating halftime speech because the Azzurri showed more purpose in the second stanza.
Using a direct approach, they opted to try to get behind the Bafana Bafana defence by passing long balls wide to the left.
Substitute Alberto Gilardino, playing his first match for his country after more than a year spent out of favour, almost rewarded this approach when he managed to get clear of the defenders, but the AC Milan striker was wide of the mark with his shot.
Stefano Mauri had an opportunity to put his side in front, after a good cross from Cristiano Lucarelli, but his header was off target.
Deadlock broken
South Africa's defence held firm until the 82-minute mark, but just when a goalless draw was in sit, Lucarelli found the back of the net from a cross by left-back Giorgio Chiellini.
Parreiras team had been only eight minutes from securing a draw with the 2006 World Cup winners, but the Shaktar Donetsk striker ended that hope. With time almost up, he rubbed salt into the South African wound by scoring a second goal.
This time the Bafana Bafana defence was guilty of ball-watching as Lucarelli found himself unmarked in front of goal. He responded appropriately, powering home a header to put the result beyond doubt.
Outplayed
Truthfully, the margin between the two teams could have been greater, with Italy twice hitting the woodwork in the second half.
Parreira will be concerned by a lack of imagination by his midfielders, and also by the lack of an attacking thrust; not once were Bafana Bafana able to put in a cross from out wide, and at international level very few goals are scored from great distances.
Italy's coach Roberto Donadoni was satisfied with his team's showing, saying he had expected some teething problems for a line-up that hadn't played together before. He praised their spirit and cohesion, adding his players had reaped what they had sown.
The loss means it is five years since South Africa last beat a European side.
Maybe the two-goal difference was a reflection of the relative rankings of the two countries. Italy is Fifa's number one, while Bafana Bafana has lost some ground recently and occupies 73rd place.
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