Italy thump San Marino 4-0 in Bologna

Andrea Poli, Alberto Gilardino, Andrea Pirlo and Alberto Aquilani were all on the mark as Italy beat San Marino 4-0 in a friendly international in Bologna, last night. Azzurri coach Cesare Prandelli opted to try his fringe players ahead of next week’s...

Andrea Poli, Alberto Gilardino, Andrea Pirlo and Alberto Aquilani were all on the mark as Italy beat San Marino 4-0 in a friendly international in Bologna, last night.

Azzurri coach Cesare Prandelli opted to try his fringe players ahead of next week’s World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic and the Confederation Cup in Brazil later this month.

Bologna, just a stone’s throw away from San Marino, had two players in the Italy line-up – Alessandro Diamanti and Alberto Gilardino – as Stephan El Shaarawy, Riccardo Montolivo and Andrea Barzagli were sidelined with injury.

San Marino’s tight cover was frustrating Italy but on 28 minutes Andrea Poli pounced on a loose ball and hit home his first goal for the national team.

Gilardino then made it 2-0 to the delight of the home crowd as Prandelli changed his entire forward line soon after the break, introducing Mario Balotelli, Alessio Cerci and debutant Marco Sau.

Pirlo scored the third with a superb free-kick ordered by Maltese referee Marco Borg and Aquilani made it 4-0, tapping in following another Pirlo delivery.

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