Finalmente!

Finally, a good result for the Azzurri yesterday! And perhaps more encouraging than the result, the performance in general was good as well.

Winning was of course vital after Scotland's heroics earlier in the day, and I'll admit to starting to feel nervous after the hour mark when it was still goaless. But then came one of the most blatant penalties I've seen in a while, followed shortly after by a simply brilliant goal from Luca Toni.

I'm not convinced he picked the correct starting XI - Del P and Iaquinta forming two prongs of a trident attack offers not a lot down the wings; last night proved (again?) Del P just doesn't have the pace for that level anymore, and we looked far more sprightly when Di Natale came on. Also, Iaquinta is a player of limited skill - yes, he did okay last night, but he can't beat a man, and he's not that good a striker. Camo would be a better choice down that wing in my opinion, but apparently he had a slight injury so could only come on as a sub.

I should also say that Di Natale was the surprise of the night - as I said, he changed the game, and his link up play with Toni (not just his brilliant ball for the 2nd, but also a superb one-two that nearly lead to a great third) was superb. Maybe I am just trying to justify my previous criticism of his selection, but I'm not so sure it was Di Natale that made the difference, so much as the introduction of a winger with some pace...but whatever, it was a good tactical change by Donadoni.

Apart from that, Buffon was superb, and the defence looked a bit more solid than it has recently. Pirlo and Gattuso were, as ever, great.

That's part one done. Now let's get a win on Wednesday and we will truly be back in the hunt in the group. Altogether now - PO PO PO PO PO PO, SIAMO CAMPIONI DEL MONDO....