Italy's Gattuso backing goal-shy Toni to shine

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)

Hiddink to stick with attacking ethos for Russia

Russia coach Guus Hiddink believes attack will be the best form of defence against Holland in tonight's Euro 2008 quarter-final in Basle.

The Dutch produced an attacking masterclass in the group stages, scoring a total of nine goals in convincing wins over France, Italy and Romania to top the 'Group of Death' in some style.

Holland are a fearsome unit going forward but Hiddink believes the first fortnight of the championships has shown that being negative will get you nowhere in the modern game.

Teams such as Romania and Greece adopted a defensive approach and have fallen by the wayside.

He has urged his team to go for the jugular against his fellow countrymen, saying: 'What is good for the game is that teams who like to attack from the start are surviving.

'That is encouraging, as we can also see that the concept of just relying on your defence, which of course sometimes may have to happen in a game, has no profit any more.

'People like to see a more attacking game. The Dutch like to attack, to have the initiative and control, and be dominant.

'But the Russian team has changed a lot, not just in personnel but also in the way we play. We now try to install the kind of play where people love to come and watch us.

'We have made some progress and we are now meeting a giant. But our approach won't be different.'

Russia, who are set to be unchanged from the team that started the 2-0 win over Sweden on Wednesday, have looked sprightly in attack themselves.

The return from suspension of Andrei Arshavin, the Zenit St Petersburg playmaker, will help them even more in that department and he was superb against the Swedes in his first game of the tournament.

But they have to find a way past Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, who has been in excellent form between the posts for the Dutch.

Hiddink, who gave Van der Sar his international debut when Holland boss in the mid-90s, cannot praise the 37-year-old highly enough.

'I know a lot of their players, having worked with them in the national team or at club level,' he said.

'We have seen Van Der Sar has had a tremendous career. This recent season was another highlight for him (he won the Barclays Premier League-Champions League double with United).

'He is the best goalkeeper in Holland, and a very responsible and intelligent man.

'I have enjoyed watching his performances and I will continue to, except this one.'

(source:soccernet)