Italy sought to downplay fears that the Netherlands will let Romania win in the final round of Group C games at the European Championship and thus eliminate the World Cup champions.
Italy have to win their final group game with France to advance, and hope for help from the Dutch.
“It’s a natural and understandable worry,” Italian football federation president Giancarlo Abete said. “The credibility of the tournament and European football at large is at stake.
“We’re confident that the third round of games in our group, both our own game with France and the Netherlands’ game with Romania, will confirm the credibility of European football and the format of the European Championship. If not, we’re going to have to go back and take a closer look at the format.”
The Netherlands routed Italy 3-0 in its opening match and beat France 4-1 Friday. The Dutch have already won the group with six points, Romania are next with two points, while France and Italy trail with one each.
“We need to look at whether a group format with four teams and three games works or not,” Abete said. “Whether it’s fair that one team advances with nine points and another with two.”
The Italy-France and Netherlands-Romania matches tomorrow will be played simultaneously.
“If you look at the way Holland beat both Italy and France, the match with Romania should end similarly,” Abete said.
At Euro 2004 in Portugal, Italy were eliminated when Denmark and Sweden drew 2-2 in their final group game.
“I believe in honesty and transparency. These same old debates don’t help anyone,” Italy coach Roberto Donadoni said. “Marco van Basten is an honest and competent person. I probably know him better than anyone else here, so I know what to expect.”
Donadoni and Van Basten spent a large chunk of their careers together as players with Milan, and the pair are still friendly.
Italy has also put UEFA to the test over a pair of controversial calls in its opening two games.
The Netherlands went ahead of the Azzurri when Ruud van Nistelrooy’s goal was allowed even though he appeared to be offside because Italian defender Christian Panucci was lying injured off the field of play.
Against Romania, a goal by Luca Toni was called off for offside, but replays showed otherwise.
Abete said after the Romania game that he expected UEFA to make another clarification on the Toni play, but he said on Saturday it was “just a verbal provocation.”
“It would be ridiculous to think that UEFA could evaluate every debatable play,” Abete said, adding that he is looking forward to talking with UEFA president Michel Platini at the Italy-France game.