Date: 13-06-2008
Stage: first round
Place: ZURICH
Running time: 115 min.
Colour: PAL
Quality: DVD
Commentary: italian
My rating: ***
Notes: Mutu vs Buffon
MATCH SUMMARY
Friday, 13 June 2008, 18:00
Letzigrund, Zurich
Attendance: 30,585
Meteo: Light rain, cool, 15°C
ITALY
Gianluigi Buffon
Giorgio Chiellini
Fabio Grosso
Christian Panucci
Gianluca Zambrotta
Mauro Camoranesi
Daniele De Rossi
Simone Perrotta
Alessandro Del Piero (c)
Andrea Pirlo
Luca Toni
Coach: Roberto Donadoni (ITA)
61′ Andrea Pirlo
90′ Daniele De Rossi
58′ ↓Simone Perrotta ↑Antonio Cassano
77′ ↓Alessandro Del Piero ↑Fabio Quagliarella
85′ ↓Mauro Camoranesi ↑Massimo Ambrosini
ROMANIA
Bogdan Lobonț
Cristian Chivu (c)
Cosmin Contra
Dorin Goian
Mirel Rădoi
Răzvan Raţ
Gabriel Tamaş
Paul Codrea
Florentin Petre
Adrian Mutu
Daniel Niculae
Coach: Victor Piturca (ROU)
43′ Adrian Mutu
58′ Cristian Chivu
73′ Dorin Goian
25′ ↓Mirel Rădoi ↑Nicolae Dică
59′ ↓Florentin Petre ↑Bănel Nicoliţă
88′ ↓Adrian Mutu ↑Răzvan Cociş
Referee: Tom Henning Øvrebø (NOR)
Goals:
55′ Adrian Mutu ROU
56′ Christian Panucci ITA
Match overview
Italy and Romania played out a dramatic 1-1 draw at the Letzigrund in Zurich during UEFA EURO 2008. Adrian Mutu put Romania ahead in the 55th minute, but Christian Panucci equalised just one minute later. The match’s decisive moment came when Gianluigi Buffon made a crucial penalty save from Mutu with nine minutes remaining, preserving a vital point for Italy and keeping their tournament hopes alive.
Trivia
This encounter is remembered for Buffon’s penalty save that became one of the defining moments of Euro 2008. The match was played in cool, rainy conditions typical of the tournament’s weather problems. Italy’s quick response to Romania’s opener demonstrated their championship resilience, while the draw left both teams with realistic chances of progressing from Group C.
