Italy fume over disallowed goals in 2-1 defeat

Group G
Italy 1
Croatia 2

Italy thought they had grabbed an injury time equaliser but the effort was ruled out by Danish linesman Jens Larsen, apparently for a foul by Filippo Inzaghi.

The same official had also disallowed a 50th minute Christian Vieri goal through offside as Italy followed competition big guns France, Portugal and Argentina to fall to upset defeats in a World Cup full of shocks so far.

Giovanni Trapattoni said: "We knew it was a competitive game. It was an intense game... these things happen and the important thing is not to get demoralised. I don't want to get into judging.

"But I thought that one of the goals - or even both goals - that were disallowed were okay. I think a draw would have been a good result."

Cup favourites Italy had led through a Vieri header in the 55th minute and looked to be heading for their second straight win in the finals before a stirring, late Croat revival.

Substitute striker Ivica Olic pulled the Croats level in the 73rd minute before midfielder Milan Rapaic stunned the Italians four minutes later, throwing Group G wide open.

Italy, Mexico and Croatia, third in the 1998 World Cup, all have three points ahead of today's game between Mexico and Ecuador.

The last time Italy lost in normal time in the finals was their first game of the 1994 World Cup when they lost 1-0 to Ireland. They still went on to reach the final where they lost on penalties to Brazil.

Yesterday's defeat also ruined Italy hopes of equalling Brazil's record of 13 consecutive finals matches without defeat.

Trapattoni was forced to re-organise when central defender Alessandro Nesta suffered what appeared to be a foot injury in the 23rd minute and was replaced by Marco Materazzi.

The Croats took advantage of the change with Zvonimir Soldo going close with a low drive.

Just two minutes after coming on Materazzi was forced to clear off the line after Italy 'keeper Gianluigi Buffon could only get one hand on a shot from Davor Vugrinec who had linked up well with Rapaic.

Vugrinec and Rapaic, both drafted in after Croatia's poor showing in their 1-0 opening game defeat to Mexico were beginning to cause problems for the Italians and Rapaic forced another save out of Buffon just before the break.

But the Italians re-asserted themselves after the break with Vieri claiming his eighth goal in seven international matches in the finals outjumping Josip Simunic to head home at the back post.

But this time the Italians failed to defend their lead. Substitute Olic brought things level when he slid in a cross from Robert Jarni.

Then Rapaic beat Materazzi and Paolo Maldini and fired in a shot which was headed out by Christian Panucci - the ball was played back into Rapaic whose hooked shot took a slight deflection and beat a stranded Buffon.

Three minutes from time Francesco Totti rapped the inside of the post from a 25-metre free kick but the ball ran across the Croatian goal before being cleared.

Italy have now failed to beat Croatia in a competitive match in three meetings, losing once and drawing once in qualifying for the 1996 European Championships.

Meanwhile, the head of Italy's delegation, Raffaele Ranucci, said the Italian Football Federation is considering a complaint to FIFA about the two disallowed goals.

"Everything we can do, we will do," said Ranucci, who added he would take time to consider any possible complaint.

Asked by reporters whether he would back a complaint, Trapattoni said: "It is not up to me to say. The (FIFA) president was watching in the stands," he said referring to Sepp Blatter who attended the match.

Vieri slams 'village ref' Poll

Italian striker Christian Vieri accused England's Graham Poll of being a village referee after Croatia's 2-1 win over Italy yesterday.

"Those weren't division one or even division two referees, they were village referees. Now we absolutely must win against Mexico," Vieri said.

Vieri was quoted by Italian news agencies as saying: "More than the referees, it's the linesman's fault as well. You have to take top level linesmen to a World Cup not amateurs. The flag was always raised... it really is a shame to lose like this."

Italy: Buffon; Panucci, Cannavaro, Nesta (Materazzi 23), Maldini; Zambrotta, Zanetti, Tommasi, Doni (Inzaghi 79); Totti, Vieri.

Croatia: Pletikosa; Saric, R. Kovac, Simunic, Jarni; Tomas, Soldo (Vranjes 63), N. Kovac, Vugrinec (Olic 57), Rapaic (Simic 79), Boksic.

Referee: Graham Poll (England).

Scorers: Vieri 55; Olic 73, Rapaic 76.

Yellow cards: Vieri; R. Kovac.

HT: 0-0. Attendance: 36,472.