Pazzini gives Italy the edge

Mantovani returns
Paolo Berrettini's side created the better chances and won through Pazzini's solitary strike after 57 minutes. Italy made five changes from the side that beat Liechtenstein 5-1, among them a recall for captain Andrea Mantovani, missing through injury from their last two matches. The Czechs, meanwhile, welcomed back Roman Hubník and Adam Varadi from suspension.

Half-chances
There was little by way of fluent play in the first half. The Czechs defended deep and threatened with occasional balls into the box while Italian attempts at something more creative amounted to little. After five minutes Luigi Della Rocca connected with an Alberto Aquilani corner but headed straight at Tomáš Cerný. At the other end, Aleš Neuwirth shot wide from ten metres out after the ball fell his way in the area.

Aquilani goes close
Shortly after the half-hour Italian No10 Alberto Aquilani curled a free-kick on to the crossbar from 20 metres. Two minutes later, Italy came again and Pazzini threaded the ball through to Luigi Della Rocca, only for Cerný to make a sliding interception.

First of the tournament
Pazzini profited from a Czech misunderstanding for his goal. Lukáš Nachtman slid in to challenge the Atalanta BC player as he chased a forward ball but in doing so pushed the ball past the advancing goalkeeper and into Pazzini's path. The Italy striker then steered the loose ball past two defenders and into the far corner for his first goal of the tournament.

Close calls
Italy looked for a second goal. Aquilani tested Cerný with a fierce drive and the Czech keeper kept out Giorgio Chiellini's near-post shot. At the other end, Ladislav Volešák's late free-kick clipped a post but that was as close as the Czechs got.