Italy hit four but depart

Squeezed out
At half-time, as they led 2-0 and England trailed by the same score, the Italians must have felt they had one foot in the semi-finals, however a remarkable second-half comeback by the English saw them squeeze through to a last-four meeting against Portugal by virtue of a single point.

Tempo increased
Despite needing to win to have any chance of maintaining their interest in the competition, Italy started slowly against an Israeli side who had lost their first two games. Indeed Israel dominated the first ten minutes with some effervescent play, however as news filtered through that England were losing the Italians upped the tempo. Their efforts were rewarded in the 32nd minute when Parma AC's Artuto Lupoli evaded the Israeli defence down the left and fed AS Cesana forward Nicola Pozzi who finished well.

Lupoli's turn
Three minutes later it was Lupoli's turn to score as he headed an excellent cross from the left into the net. Now playing with real confidence, the Italians extended their lead to 3-0 six minutes into the second half when a Giuseppe Rossi free-kick hit the post and Pozzi snaffled the rebound.

All in vain
In the 78th minute Piermario Morosini released Lupoli and the forward chipped the Israeli goalkeeper, however it proved in vain as he and his team-mates discovered on leaving the pitch and learning of the dramatic events in Vila Real.