Italy's top sporting official rushed to Roberto Donadoni's defence on Thursday after an experimental side fielded by the new coach of world champions Italy lost 2-0 in a friendly against Croatia.
"The Azzurri lost in Livorno last night but I'm defending Donadoni. He had no choice because the players who won the world championship in Germany were not yet in top physical shape," said Gianni Petrucci, head of Italy's Olympic Committee (CONI).
"He made a logical decision, and when we face Lithuania in Naples (on September 2) we'll see a different Italy," said Petrucci, referring to the team's first qualifier for Euro 2008.
The Italian press was not overly aggressive and most dailies compared Donadoni's debut on the bench with that of World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi, who also lost his first match.
Rome's Corriere dello Sport was not harsh with Donadoni, blaming the Italian Soccer Federation for agreeing to the friendly in mid-August, when players are still trying to find their physical condition.
The country's leading sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport echoed this stance, describing the match against Croatia as an "embarrassment which could have been avoided." "What an embarrassing, stitched-together 'little' Italy," said the daily, moaning that Donadoni had called up too many newcomers.
But it too blamed the Federation, saying it had a misplaced "business" mentality.
"The embarrassment stands and the money pocketed from the television contract (with state broadcaster RAI) is not enough to justify it," said Gazzetta. Italy's leading newspaper, Corriere della Sera described the match as a "false start." It warned, however," that though it was "an insignificant little embarrassment, it is one not to be forgotten."
Donadoni seemed unruffled by the experience, saying he did not regret fielding youngsters and reserves and stressing that the World Cup 'stars' "were in a worse condition than those who played in Livorno."
Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) emergency supremo Guido Rossi appointed Donadoni in July after Lippi, 58, turned down widespread calls to extend his contract, saying his "role was completed".
Rossi said, "I chose him because he's young and won't be crushed by Lippi's shadow". He said Donadoni, 43, was the players' choice too.
Donadoni's first job will be to get Italy through a tough Euro 2008 group including Scotland, Georgia, Lithuania and Italy's defeated Germany 2006 opponents Ukraine and France - still smarting at their final loss.
Donadoni admitted that he was concerned about the Azzurri's first real test - against Lithuania on September 2 - saying there was not much time.
On September 6 there will be the highly charged 'revenge' match against France, which lost to Italy in the World Cup final in Berlin.
