Having already overcome the Ivory Coast and Turkey, Italy came into this game with a place in the final four already assured and coach Pierluigi Casiraghi took the chance to change the formation.Sebastian Giovinco and Empoli teammate Ignazio Abate played behind Pablo Daniel Osvaldo in attack, while Venezia goalkeeper Enrico Alfonso was given the gloves.
Juve-owned Giovinco was the star of the show once more and he nearly set up Abate for an opener, but his effort fizzed just wide.
It was Osvaldo who inspired the first goal as his incisive ball dropped to Abate and the former AC Milan youth player coolly tucked it away.
Soon after, it was 2-0 when Giovinco found Osvaldo whose pinpoint ball was easily poked home by Parma’s Daniele Dessena.
Siena star Daniele Galloppa impressed again and nearly made it three with an effort that went agonisingly wide, but the game was more than safe.
Italy will now face Group A runners-up Japan in the semi-final on Tuesday. Group A winners Chile will play Ivory Coast in other last four tie.
Italy: Alfonso, Motta, Marzoratti, Bocchetti, Osvaldo (Pelle 59), Giovinco (Lanzafame 45), Coda, Galloppa, Abate, Dessena, Cigarini (Nocerino 59).
REACTION
Pierluigi Casiraghi (Italy coach)
"This was much better than the first game and we had more of the game and more fighting spirit. Probably in the second half the boys were a little tired as was the third match in six days - and that is normal."
MATCHDAY 3 RESULTS
Group A
24-05-08: Chile 2-0 Japan
24-05-08: France 0-1 Netherlands
Group B
25-05-08: Italy 2-0 USA
25-05-08: Ivory Coast 4-0 Turkey
[TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE]
Source: C4 Football Italia
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