Euro 2012: Italy off to a good start

After a dire first half against Estonia the Azzurri bounced back with a better second half performance to take three points in difficult circumstances. Difficult because this was a team with, as Cesare Prandelli said, little confidence and it showed when a defensive mix up and goalkeeping error by Sirigu allowed Estonia to take the lead. Frankly it didn't look good for Italy but they had dominated in possession with Pirlo, De Rossi and Montolivo running the game in midfield. Cassano and Pazzini had been largely contained at this point but that was to change in the second half when he headed home the equiliser from an inch perfect Andrea Pirlo corner. Cassano was again at the heart of the wining goal with a delightful backheel into the path of Leo Bonnuci, the talented Juventus defender who scored his second goal for Italy in just four appearances.

The three points is usually what matters but one can't help but feel in this case that the confidence from simply picking up a win will do wonders for them in the rest of the qualifying campaign and push them onto Euro 2012.