Euro 2008 - Donadoni refuses to blame ref decision

Eurosport - Tue, 10 Jun 07:29:00 2008

Coach Roberto Donadoni refused to blame a controversial first goal for Italy's 3-0 thrashing by Netherlands in their Euro 2008 opener.

1006 conf donadoni - 0

Ruud van Nistelrooy appeared to be offside when he turned the ball home although Italy defender Christian Panucci was lying behind the by-line having been accidentally pushed out of play by Gianluigi Buffon as the goalkeeper went to punch.

The world champions protested to Swedish referee Peter Frojdfeldt and the Azzurri fans joined in having seen a replay of the 26th-minute incident on the stadium's big screen. But the goal stood.

"I don't like to talk about referees' decisions. A goal is a goal and it is impossible to change the decision," Donadoni said. "We accept it."

Italy striker Luca Toni was convinced it was offside.

"I looked at the replay during the match and it looked to me as if it was offside," he said.

"I said to the referee, 'look at the replay'. But he didn't look so that was that."

Italy were out-muscled by the Dutch in midfield and also failed to create many clear-cut chances.

"We weren't very good. The Dutch players have physical quality," said Donadoni, adding that he was alarmed by some of his side's defending.

France's 0-0 draw with Romania in the other Group C game on Monday gives Italy hope of rescuing the situation.

Donadoni's men next face Romania on Friday and France on June 17.

"It has just been one of those nights, now we must look forward. It's hard but you must be optimistic. There are other games [to play]," the coach said.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 19 of 19

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  1. Good rule or bad rule, it's still a rule, therefore, that's how you play the game. The Dutch side completely outclassed Italy. To be fair, there was no Fabio Cannavaro. Then again, the Dutch didn't have Arjen Robben. The Dutch team was superior in every way, and van der Saar had a better game than Buffon. Good class shown by the coach not to argue the call or keep whining about it (are you listening, Michel Therrien?). My hat's off to him. I'm not writing Italy off yet, I know they can come back. But my current prediction is that they're out. They'll beat Romania, but lose to France. Holland will take first in Group 3. Don't hold me to this though. Anything can happen in this game.

    From leafsfanonag..., on Thu 12 Jun 3:52AM

  2. It's not a stupid rule.... Imagine, you're defending against the far post .. last man..playing the big centre forward onside, no chance of out jumping him, a rash challenge would concede a spot kick, so just before the cross comes in you step behind the line..????. that's why it's a good rule.

    From thetrotter, on Wed 11 Jun 8:02AM

  3. Am appalled by the suggestion that UEFA shold have workshops/seminars to sensitise players on the rules of the game. These footballers are professionals for chrissake so it is in their interest to know the rules so that they do not concede silly goalslike that one. Hard luck Italy better luck next time. You gotta work hard in the next game. Doni saw where the team was lacking am sure he will work on it.
    Excellent game by the Netherlands...........they looked sharp in all the depts.

    From dennischiwala, on Tue 10 Jun 4:01PM

  4. au ah gelap

    From hilal h, on Tue 10 Jun 2:42PM

  5. I might be interested in the "hot lonely woman" if she had anything to say about the football.......LOL!!!

    From New Baws please, on Tue 10 Jun 1:49PM

  6. Of course Italy cheated and of course Greece didn't deserve it. I'm sure people saying that are supporting a team that hasn't won anything for at least 30 years, but deserved at least one more qualification.. bad luck
    Forza Italia, fateli vedere chi siete
    dalla Grecia con amore
    Pinturicchio the best

    p.s. centrali del Milan troppo lenti, va tenuto solo Pirlo. I centrali della Roma corrono di piu

    From alexgavros75, on Tue 10 Jun 1:03PM

  7. Even if the goal were disallowed,the italians would still have been given a good trashing. I could imagine the relief on their faces at the final whistle. Dont get me wrong, I love italian football(ers), but I dont fail to cheer goodfootball whenever I see one. Thumbs up to the dutchside. They should however get ready to proove their worth in the subsequent matches.
    Nnamdi Onuorah

    From nnanndy, on Tue 10 Jun 11:28AM

  8. lol, italy the best? the team is @#$% and just like Greece winning the euro cup being a absolute joke, so was italy going to the world cup final :)

    From moon2309, on Tue 10 Jun 9:02AM

  9. I can't see how someone can cheat in the world cup and how Buffon's clean sheet throughout the tournament except for an own goal and a penalty kick can be called luck. Italy would come back with a few changes in the line up and a two man attack. Just because Juventus' board of directors cheated in Serie A doesn't mean that all 8 Juventus players in the World Cup Final somehow cheated (3 of which were in France).

    P.S. I think 8 players in a World Cup final from a single team is a record

    From juve_andre27, on Tue 10 Jun 8:09AM

  10. FORZA ITALIA!!! FORZA ITALIA!!! FORZA ITALIA!!!

    FORZA ITALIA!!! FORZA ITALIA!!! FORZA ITALIA!!!

    WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS ME FRIEND, WE WILL FIGHTEN TO THE END!!!

    HATE US BECOUSE WE ARE THE BEST!!!

    F O R Z A I T A L I A !!!

    From lomsonainter, on Tue 10 Jun 7:57AM

  11. Just goes to show that they've only won the world cup by cheating a bit here and there and luck. It was good to see them getting a good beat though. Bye bye la squadra azzura, rientrare alla casa.

    From slebmaster, on Tue 10 Jun 7:40AM

  12. I'm an Italian fan, of course I'm dissappointed that Italy lost, however I must admit that the Dutch played much better today than the Italians.However Italy is known to be a slow starter and I think as the tourney moves on Italy will pick up the pace and will begin to win games {I hope this is true this time}at any rate my congratulations go to Holland to have played an excellent match and good luck to my team to do much better in the forthcoming days.....

    From dante, on Tue 10 Jun 5:48AM

  13. I don't see the relationship between Italy's loss to a deserving Dutch side and the relentless effort of the lonely hot woman who's looking for a sugar daddy. FYI "Hot Lonely Woman" you are totally in the wrong forum at the wrong time to hunt down for your sugar daddy. It throws into sharp relief that which is unconceivable, would anyone looking for a hot lonely woman, and the Hottness seems subjective and self serving here, would browse through comments and threads left in a sports blog. Unless of course, whoever wrote this is neither a hot lonely woman but a loser guy who just wants to see who would really respond to such prostituting solicitations. Now that is out of the way, I am a big fan of Italy, it was very hard for me to see them losing but also they didn't deserve a big win either, nor they deserved a crushing defeat of 3-0. Italy has always managed to come back when everyone wrote them off. Good luck in the next two matches, after all we are the World Champions, hot woman....

    From kbmeskini, on Tue 10 Jun 5:00AM

  14. I am a fan of the Dutch team and congratulate them for playing excellent football at least for once since so many years. They better keep up with this standard thoughout the tournament. Further,I would logically say that the refree also denied the Italians of all free kick opportunities especially during the second half of the game. Think the Swedish was negatively very conscious of the presence of Pirlo when it comes to set pieces.

    From afronet2, on Tue 10 Jun 3:16AM

  15. he clearly was offside , but italy were outclassed , the dutch have a good chance of winning this if they play like that every match... by the way ,what is it with all these sugardaddy adverts lol

    From steve d, on Tue 10 Jun 2:41AM

  16. At first I thougt RVN was offside and a bad decision on the referee's part, but since there was a player, eventhough he was out the field of play" he was still technically playing and thus RVN was still "onside".

    From starman_123, on Tue 10 Jun 2:31AM

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    From lovegirl10019, on Tue 10 Jun 1:37AM

  18. once again, rules should be well known amongst players and coaches and of course journalists! this kind of situations give the game a lack of credibility and of course "blame it on the ref" attitude... donadoni is a wise man though not giving it much attention - the goal stood and it was regular, because there is no "out of play" unless ref stops the game!

    From thrunabilax, on Tue 10 Jun 12:53AM

  19. thought he was offside but i suppose the ruling is if a player leaves the field of play without the referees permision he is technically still in play leaving ruud in a onside posistion unless the linesman thought it hadnt touch ruud therefore was a goal ...wish officals would talk to clarify there decisions and stop us guessing and admit a mistake if they make one

    From declan, on Tue 10 Jun 12:45AM
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