Donadoni defends tactics as Italy yearns for past

Coach Roberto Donadoni defended his decision-making today after being heavily criticised for Italy's 3-0 defeat by Netherlands in their tournament opener.

The world champions produced one of their worst performances for years yesterday, with the defence especially woeful without the injured Fabio Cannavaro.

Despite the obvious failings across the pitch, Donadoni stuck by his tactics.

"We were dominated? This is your assessment," he told a news conference.

"To say now whether the formation was right or wrong makes no sense. If the reason it was wrong is because we lost then so be it. But it is too simplistic. For me, it was not mistaken."

Former Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi, who took the Azzurri to the World Cup final in 1994, said the team was like "a Ferrari without petrol" while many pundits yearned for Marcello Lippi, who stood down as manager after the team's triumph in Germany.

Asked what he thought about the criticism and the longing for Lippi, Donadoni said: "Honestly, I expected it."

He cannot have expected Italy's worst defeat in a European Championship but Italian media said it was predictable given the team Donadoni sent out.

The coach played Massimo Ambrosini in midfield instead of the younger, fitter and more dynamic Daniele De Rossi while his centre-back pairing of Andrea Barzagli and Marco Materazzi were all at sea.

Donadoni said he still had faith ahead of Friday's game with Romania and the final group match against France on June 17.

"This defeat does not knock my confidence in the team. Clearly, I have to do some thinking," he said.

Goals from Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wesley Sneijder and Giovanni van Bronckhorst exposed a lack of pace across Italy's team and changes are expected against Romania, who sat back and held France to a draw yesterday.

Giorgio Chiellini may come in at centre back with Materazzi the most likely casualty while De Rossi, attacking midfielder Alberto Aquilani and forward Alessandro Del Piero, who was a second-half substitute yesterday, will hope to start.

Donadoni's favoured four, three, three formation could also come in for review with a four, three, two, one having been tried out in the second half of last month's win over Belgium, Italy's only friendly in the immediate build-up to the finals in Austria and Switzerland.