Italy have taken another big
step towards Euro 2016 but coach Antonio Conte isn't counting
any chickens just yet.
Conte's men beat Bulgaria 1-0 in Palermo Sunday night
thanks to a Daniel De Rossi penalty to advance within one win of
qualifying for next year's tournament in France.
The Azzurri now have four points' advantage over
third-placed Croatia and a win in their next game, away to
Azerbaijan, will see them through.
Italy were slightly more incisive than in their 1-0 win
against Malta last week but they fell away badly in the second
half and rarely looked dangerous in front of goal.
They were also left in 10 men when De Rossi was sent off in
the 55th minute for retaliation to a foul that also took his
Bulgarian opponent a red card.
It was the third time De Rossi has seen red for the
national team and Conte chided him, saying:
"He really shouldn't be doing things like that any more.
He's a highly paid and highly experienced professional".
But Conte did not say the Roma midfielder would fall foul
of the manager's code of conduct rules.
Things looked slightly better for Italy in the first half
with Graziano Pellé, scorer of the goal that sank Malta, again
impressing as a front man, in the role he plays for
Southhampton.
Stefan El Shaarawy also showed some good touches and looks
to be recovering the form that made him one of the most feared
strikers in Serie A.
But when this pair were replaced by Simone Zaza and later
Eder Italy soon ran out of ideas against a solidly packed
Bulgarian defence.
For Conte, qualification is still not a sure thing - not
by a long chalk.
"You can never say never in football and if we lose our
last games Croatia can sneak past us," he said.
Against Bulgaria, said the former Juventus and Italy
midfielder, "we created loads of chances but didn't take any of
them.
"There was a lot of tension because the result meant a lot
after Noway's win.
"Our group is a tough one and even Croatia is starting to
realise that.
"Qualification isn't certain at all.
"We're going to have to sweat to earn it".
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