Soccer: Italy advance with victory over Czechs

HAMBURG - Italy clinched top spot in World Cup Group E today, eliminating the 10-man Czech Republic with a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from substitutes Marco Materazzi and Filippo Inzaghi.

A 26th minute header from defender Materazzi gave the Italians the lead before the Czechs were reduced to 10 men just before the break with the dismissal of Jan Polak.

Inzaghi, who came on in the second half, rounded goalkeeper Petr Cech to roll home the second in the 87th minute as the Czechs threw everyone forward.

Italy finished on top of Group E with seven points and meet the runners-up from Group F in Kaiserslautern on Monday. That group, comprising Brazil, Australia, Croatia and Japan play their final first round games later on Thursday.

Ghana clinched the second spot in Group E after beating the United States 2-1.

Coaches' views

Italy coach Marcello Lippi praised his team's unity.

"This team has terrific spirit, probably the most fighting spirit I have had in any team," said Lippi.

"We deserve to qualify, we played two great games to beat Ghana and Czech Republic, two very difficult teams."

Czech coach Karel Brueckner said his side were up against it after having Polak sent off.

"Playing with 10 men was just too difficult today," said Brueckner. "We lost a lot of players before the game and had suspensions which hurt us in this tournament."

Absent Czechs

The Czechs sorely missed injured forward Jan Koller and suspended striker Vratislav Lokvenc and it was left to midfielder Pavel Nedved to provide the attacking inspiration.

Twice in the early stages Nedved tested Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon with long-range efforts.

Buffon dealt well with a dipping drive but could only parry out another Nedved effort - although the Italy keeper did well to smother Marek Jankulovski's follow-up.

Italy's problems increased in the 17th minute when they were forced into a change - Alessandro Nesta, suffering from what appeared to be a recurrence of his troublesome muscle injury, limping off to be replaced by Materazzi.

The big central defender headed the Azzurri in front with his first goal for the national side nine minutes later, leaping superbly above Polak to power a header past Cech.

The Italians' grip on the game got tighter just before the break when Polak was dismissed for a second bookable offence for a foul from behind on Totti.

That left Karel Brueckner's side down to 10 men for a second half in which they needed to score twice to keep themselves in the World Cup.

Nedved forced Buffon into action again after latching on to a through ball from Stajner and then minutes later produced a thundering drive which had the Italy keeper at full strength.

- REUTERS