ITALY 0-2 CROATIA
Italian players in a flare-up with CroatiaUnder-strength Italy were unable to give new coach Roberto Donadoni a winning start as the World Cup winners were beaten at the first time of asking.
An experimental line-up containing none of the World Cup-winning XI, and lacking match-practice with the Italian season still almost four weeks from commencing, had no answer to a much more experienced Croatia.
Eduardo Da Silva headed the visitors ahead after 28 minutes with Luka Modric adding the second three minutes before the end of the first half.
A much-improved home side came close to reducing the arrears in the second half, but the 16,750 fans in Leghorn were left disappointed with the new-look Italy.
Donadoni fielded a side with six debutants, and after only three days together, it soon became clear that the players were not used to playing alongside each other.
Giulio Falcone and Christian Terlizzi, two of four Sampdoria players in the starting XI, shouldn't have had such problems to deal with.
But a lack of understanding between the central defenders allowed Da Silva to nod Croatia ahead.
Anthony Seric provided the cross after good work down the left from the combative Dario Srna, and Da Silva rose in the centre to head past Marco Amelia from close range.
The Azzurri looked increasingly dangerous, with Tommaso Rocchi testing Stipe Pletikosa several times in the first half, but Modric showed a better eye for goal to double Croatia's advantage just before the break.
Da Silva's shot was only parried by Amelia and Modric followed up to lift his finish over Amelia and in off the crossbar.
Donadoni continued to experiment throughout the second half, giving the remainder of his squad a chance and at one point fielding five Sampdoria players.
With almost half of the team from the same club, Italy appeared a little more settled in the second half and almost cut their guests' lead when Andrea Caraccioli tried an acrobatic overhead kick which just missed the post.
David Di Michele looked lively when he was introduced but Donadoni will be hard-pressed to name any of the same players in his squad to face Lithuania next month when the World Cup heroes return.
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