Disappointing Italy now face mammoth task

Italy were off to a disastrous start in their bid to claim their first European Championship title in 40 years on Monday as they were comprehensively beaten by a determined Dutch side 3-0 in Berne.

The sour defeat, coupled with the 0-0 draw between Romania and France, left the world champions rock bottom in Group C and facing an uphill task to make it to the knock-out stages of the tournament.

Italy did have their moments in the game against Holland but from the outset one could notice that the Azzurri were far from their best.

All three departments in the field seemed disjointed. The forward line was isolated up front and the defence too fragile.

The midfield trio - Gennaro Gattuso, Massimo Ambrosini and Andrea Pirlo - failed to ignite the team as the influence of team captain Fabio Cannavaro was sorely missed. Supporting striker Antonio Di Natale, so impressive in the qualifiers and with his club Udinese in the Serie A this season, was a pale shadow of his usual self.

All in all, that of Monday was a very poor display by Roberto Donadoni's side. I think, Holland did deserve to win but not with such a wide margin, however.

In two days' time, Italy must bounce back from this heavy setback and get back in the reckoning as they take on Romania in what promises to be a make-or-break encounter.

But what really went wrong on Monday?

Credit should be duly given to Holland. Marco van Basten's men rose to the occasion and produced a fine display of all-round play and attacking football. Monday's victory was Holland's first over Italy in almost three decades.

The absence of Cannavaro should not serve as an alibi for the lack of cohesion in Italy's defence on Monday.

The side improved at the back after Marco Materazzi was replaced by Fabio Grosso and Christian Panucci was shifted to central defence. The Roma defender had a quiet game on the flank and his overlaps were very rare, almost non-inexistent.

In the wake of Milan's poor 2007/08 campaign, in which Pirlo, Ambrosini and Gattuso were among those who underperformed most, one wonders why Donadoni kept faith in all three and left Roma's Daniele De Rossi out.

Radical changes in the starting XI are expected to be made against Romania. Also, the approach needs to be completely different in the sense that Italy should try to be more positive in their game.

In the qualifiers, Italy were off to a stuttering start after a home draw with Lithuania and a 1-3 defeat in France. But, eventually, the Azzurri recovered and went all the way to win Group B.