GROUP C ITALY V ROMANIA:ITALY ARE still in there, but only just. Were it not for a splendid 80th-minute penalty save by goalkeeper Gigi Buffon, the frustrated Italians would be out of Euro 2008.

With the score on 1-1, Norwegian referee Tom Henning awarded a penalty to Romania after veteran defender Christian Panucci was adjudged to have brought down striker Daniel Niculae. Romania's ace marksman, Fiorentina striker Adrian Mutu, took the kick against his one-time Juventus team-mate only to see Buffon make a two-part save, first with his outstretched leg and then with his hands.

In truth, had Mutu's penalty gone in, it would have been a case of harsh justice for an Italian side that had largely dominated a thrilling game.

It would seem all things currently conspire against the Italians. Last night, they had a seemingly good goal from striker Luca Toni disallowed just before half-time when the linesman called the Bayern Munich striker offside. Even though Italy had perhaps half a dozen chances in the first half, mainly aimed at the head of 6ft 4in Toni, it was Romania who drew first blood and they did so when Italian left back Gianluca Zambrotta made an uncharacteristic error with a back-header that went straight to Mutu rather than Buffon for a 55th-minute goal.

Given they had largely dominated, that they had had one goal disallowed, that they had missed chances and that now they had made a gift of a goal to Romania, one might well have expected a total Italian collapse at this point.

Not so, within a minute the Italians had equalised following one of their 12 corners when defender Giorgio Chiellini headed Andrea Pirlo's flag kick back across goal for Panucci to score practically on the line. That angry Italian reaction was typical of their performance last night when the they took the game to Romania from the kick-off. Even if one might have reservations about their sharpness (or lack of) in front of goal, one could not fault the Italian effort.

For far too much of the game, however, the only Italian attacking tactic appeared to be the cross for the Toni head. Time and again Fabio Grosso on the left and Mauro Camoranesi on the right concluded promising runs to the edge of the Romania area with crosses intended for Toni. Time and again, too, the solid Romanian defence cleared such crosses.

For Italy, a crucial turning point came in the 57th minute when coach Roberto Donadoni finally turned to a player who represents the sort of quality one expects from the best Italians, namely Antonio Cassano. Brought on as a replacement for hardworking but hardly incisive Roma midfielder Simone Perrotta, Cassano added an element of creative bite that had been badly lacking from the Italian attack.

On at least four occasions during his half hour of play, Cassano came close to setting up a winner. Never more so than in the 75th minute when he delivered a perfect chip to Toni. The striker headed it across goal for a diving header from Daniele de Rossi that looked a certain goal until Bogdan Lobont made a superb save.

With a view to what now becomes a do-or-die third first-round game against France, here in Zurich next Tuesday, Donadoni will think long and hard before leaving Cassano out of this team.

For last night's game, Donadoni had, as promised, rung the changes bringing in De Rossi and Simone Perrotta in midfield, Chiellini and Grosso in defence and Del Piero in attack. For the game against France, he might be well advised to make further changes, perhaps starting with Cassano.

Speaking after the game, the Italian coach expressed his satisfaction with his side's performance arguing if a side had deserved to win, it had been Italy. Pronouncing himself less than happy with referee Henning, Donadoni went on: "I think we played well, we were very determined, very aggressive, created a lot of chances and we suffered too against a very good Romania - remember this side beat Holland and drew with the Dutch in the qualifiers, then they drew against France the other night, so I can only express my compliments to my players."

Whilst Donadoni suggested on the balance of play, Italy had deserved to win, it is well worth remembering this more than useful Romanian side not only missed that late penalty but they also forced Buffon into two excellent first-half saves - one from Mutu and the other from right back Razvan Rat. Romania also hit the post in the first half from a Christian Chivu free-kick.

Even if the final corner-kick score of 12-5 reflected Italian territorial dominance, that is not to say Romania were just there to make up the numbers. In what is sure to be a dramatic day next Tuesday, Romania could yet have much to say when they meet the Dutch in Bern. The Group of Death promised to be tight and so it will be.

ITALY:Buffon, Zambrotta, Panucci, Chiellini, Grosso, Camoranesi (Ambrosini 85), Pirlo, De Rossi, Del Piero (Quagliarella 77), Perrotta (Cassano 58), Toni. Subs not used: Amelia, De Sanctis, Gamberini, Barzagli, Gattuso, Di Natale, Borriello, Aquilani, Materazzi. Booked: Pirlo, De Rossi.

ROMANIA:Lobont, Contra, Tamas, Goian, Rat, Radoi (Dica 25), Petre (Nicolita 59), Codrea, Chivu, Mutu (Cocis 88), Daniel Niculae. Subs not used: Popa, Stancioiu, Marica, Sapunaru, Ghionea, Moti, Marius Niculae, Cristea, Radu. Booked: Mutu, Chivu, Goian.

Referee:Tom Henning (Norway).