Italy drew 1-1 with Turkey in an international friendly, a result that will do little to ease the pressure on coach Giovanni Trapattoni.
Trapattoni, who has been under fire after Italy’s stuttering start to their European qualifying campaign, will have been relieved that Christian Vieri struck seven minutes before half-ftime to cancel out a goal by Belozoglu Emre.
The absence through injury of several key players, notably, defender Alessandro Nesta and playmaker Francesco Totti, forced Trapattoni to start with four uncapped players – defender Alessandro Birindelli and midfielders Carlo Nervo,Simone Perrotta and Antonio Di Natale.
Although not a vintage Italian perfoormance, given the circumstances, Trapattoni declared himself satisfied with the performance.
‘In the first half we played well,’ he said.
‘We conceded a goal on the counter-attack, but we got back into it with Vieri.
‘In the second half we wilted a bit, but we still had chances and could have won the game.
‘I saw a satisfying Italy out there tonight, also on an individual level. Compliments to the new lads.
‘Above all today was a friendly,’ he added.
‘Unlike us Turkey had a full squad – a squad that finished third at the World Cupand that played to win. We can develop from here.’
