Gennaro Gattuso has backed Luca Toni to step into the limelight left by Italy's missing players and kick-start his Euro 2008 when they face Spain.
Toni enjoyed a prolific season with Bayern Munich and was tipped to shine this summer but has so far drawn a blank in the Azzurri's first three games, leading to suggestions he should be dropped for the quarter-final against Spain in Vienna.
Gattuso is among the senior players ruled out of the clash at Ernst Happel Stadium tomorrow evening, and coach Roberto Donadoni is likely to look towards players such as Toni for Italy's inspiration, despite the criticism the striker has received.
The closest the 31-year-old has come to scoring was against France when he was through on goal before getting hauled down for a penalty, leading to Eric Abidal's dismissal.
'He has been coping fine with everything,' said midfielder Gattuso. 'It was lucky he didn't score against France when he was challenged by Abidal because if he had, they wouldn't have been reduced to 10 men.
'That Toni moment alone was worth two goals because we went 1-0 up from the penalty and had an extra man which was very important.'
Midfielder Massimo Ambrosini added: 'I'm sure Toni will break out soon.'
Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo are suspended against Spain, with Ambrosini among the players in contention to deputise in central midfield.
To add to Donadoni's selection problems, he has been short on options in defence as he looks to keep quiet Spain strikers Fernando Torres and David Villa.
Fabio Cannavaro was ruled out before the tournament with an ankle injury, and Andrea Barzagli joined him on the sidelines this week following a knee complaint.
Marco Materazzi, meanwhile, has been out of form and his tournament has been limited to the first 54 minutes of the defeat to Holland before getting substituted.
'Spain's whole side plays as one - they all pass the ball around very well and then suddenly hit you with a long ball to David Villa or Fernando Torres, who are both very dangerous,' explained Gattuso.
'It's very difficult to steal the ball off them because they are so good in possession. They remind me of the Barcelona team that won the Champions League two years ago.'
Injuries in defence has led to Christian Panucci, a full-back by trade, playing in the middle along with Giorgio Chiellini, who played at left-back at last summer's Under-21 European Championships.
Panucci was only persuaded out of international retirement last October, then scored the winner against Scotland to help seal Italy's qualification.
He netted against Romania in the group stages when it looked like their tournament was slipping away.
The 35-year-old said: 'At first I didn't want to go back but then my father persuaded me otherwise and I made the right decision.
'The fact I used to play with Donadoni also makes me give that little bit extra and I'm delighted at what he has done for my career.'
(ESPNsoccernet)
Toni enjoyed a prolific season with Bayern Munich and was tipped to shine this summer but has so far drawn a blank in the Azzurri's first three games, leading to suggestions he should be dropped for the quarter-final against Spain in Vienna.
Gattuso is among the senior players ruled out of the clash at Ernst Happel Stadium tomorrow evening, and coach Roberto Donadoni is likely to look towards players such as Toni for Italy's inspiration, despite the criticism the striker has received.
The closest the 31-year-old has come to scoring was against France when he was through on goal before getting hauled down for a penalty, leading to Eric Abidal's dismissal.
'He has been coping fine with everything,' said midfielder Gattuso. 'It was lucky he didn't score against France when he was challenged by Abidal because if he had, they wouldn't have been reduced to 10 men.
'That Toni moment alone was worth two goals because we went 1-0 up from the penalty and had an extra man which was very important.'
Midfielder Massimo Ambrosini added: 'I'm sure Toni will break out soon.'
Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo are suspended against Spain, with Ambrosini among the players in contention to deputise in central midfield.
To add to Donadoni's selection problems, he has been short on options in defence as he looks to keep quiet Spain strikers Fernando Torres and David Villa.
Fabio Cannavaro was ruled out before the tournament with an ankle injury, and Andrea Barzagli joined him on the sidelines this week following a knee complaint.
Marco Materazzi, meanwhile, has been out of form and his tournament has been limited to the first 54 minutes of the defeat to Holland before getting substituted.
'Spain's whole side plays as one - they all pass the ball around very well and then suddenly hit you with a long ball to David Villa or Fernando Torres, who are both very dangerous,' explained Gattuso.
'It's very difficult to steal the ball off them because they are so good in possession. They remind me of the Barcelona team that won the Champions League two years ago.'
Injuries in defence has led to Christian Panucci, a full-back by trade, playing in the middle along with Giorgio Chiellini, who played at left-back at last summer's Under-21 European Championships.
Panucci was only persuaded out of international retirement last October, then scored the winner against Scotland to help seal Italy's qualification.
He netted against Romania in the group stages when it looked like their tournament was slipping away.
The 35-year-old said: 'At first I didn't want to go back but then my father persuaded me otherwise and I made the right decision.
'The fact I used to play with Donadoni also makes me give that little bit extra and I'm delighted at what he has done for my career.'
(ESPNsoccernet)
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