Italy were given a bad send-off to the World Cup finals in Gothenburg last night when they crashed to a shock 1-0 defeat to Sweden. Roberto Baggio was Italy's most promising player on the field but it was his Bologna team-mate Kennet Andersson who finally stole the show, heading home the winner in the 90th minute. There was some good news for Italy, however, as they finally were able to include Alessandro Del Piero in their squad for France 98. Coach Cesare Maldini was able to add Del Piero's name to his final 22 after his recovery from a thigh strain. "Indications of the team doctors are positive," said Maldini.
Italy's midfield were to blame for a flat first-half performance in Gothenburg as they failed to drive through the supply routes for Baggio and Fabrizio Ravanelli, who were given little real chance to cause trouble. Maldini's side were solid at the back in the opening 45 minutes and second half substitute Francesco Moriero added more bite up front.
However, as the match wore on, Italy looked tired and careless in their passing, and a moment's slack marking at the end was enough to send the finalists of US 94 to France 98 with their tails between their legs.
Just as Italy had resigned themselves to a draw, Newcastle United's Andreas Andersson, who had just come on as a late substitute, floated over a fine cross for Kennet Andersson to head home unchallenged from a dozen yards. It may only have been a friendly, but the performance left coach Cesare Maldini with more questions than answers with just nine days before his men open their campaign against Chile in Bordeaux on June 11th. Austria warmed-up with a 6-0 walloping of Liechtenstein at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna. Striker Toni Polster and midfielder Peter Stoger each scored twice as the Austrians went on the rampage.
Polster opened the scoring after only five minutes with the 42nd international goal of his career and Liechtenstein's hopes of an upset were wrecked when Patrik Hefti was sent off just three minutes later.
Austria, who are in Group B of the first-round of the World Cup along with Italy, Chile and Cameroon, also got goals from Didi Kuhbauer and substitute Mario Haas.
The win came as a boost for the Austrians, who lost to Hungary and the United States in World Cup warm-up matches before beating Tunisia 2-1.
In Baiersbronn, Germany, South Africa beat a VfB Stuttgart XI 5-0 with a hat-trick from Shawn Bartlett and a brace from Jerry Sikhosans.
Sweden V Italy
Sweden: Hedman; R Nilsson, Andersson, Bjorklund (M Nilsson 45), Kaamark; Mild, Schwartz, Larsson, Soederstroem (A Andersson 62); K Andersson, Pettersson. ITALY: Pagliuca; Nesta, Costacurta (Bergomi 73), Cannavaro, Maldini; Di Livio (Moriero 45), Albertini, Di Biagio, Di Matteo (Pessotto 84); Ravanelli, R Baggio
Austria V Liechtenstein
Austria: Konsel, Schoettel, Pfeffer, Feiersinger, Pfeifenberger (Reinmayer 66), Vastic (Haas 46), Herzog (Stoeger) Cerny (Schopp 46), Wetl, Polster, Kuehbauer.
Liechtenstein: Oehry, Hanselmann, Stocklasa, Ospelt, Hasler, Buechel, Hefti, P Frick, Beck (Ritter 46, Stocklasa 77), M Frick, Bricker.
