czechs beat italy to third after shoot-out drama published: saturday 4 october 2003, 10.34cet
after eight successful penalties by each side, jaroslav netolička kept out fulvio collovati's effort to ensure the holders pipped the hosts to third.
czechoslovakia clinched third place after an extraordinary penalty shoot-out against italy.
the holders were forced to defend for much of the game, italy's class on the ball allowing them to dominate possession, but goalkeeper jaroslav netolička was in inspired form. indeed, it was his resilience between the posts that allowed his team to take the lead nine minutes after half-time.
hero of the czechs' 1976 triumph, antonín panenka, rolled a corner out to ladislav jurkemik, outstanding in defence and attack, who smashed past dino zoff. the imposing italian keeper's distinguished career was left slightly blemished by a handful of these high-profile goals from long range, but he did better at close quarters; even at 38 he was sharp enough to make a fine save when zdeněk nehoda broke clear.
francesco graziani ended the drought he and his fellow forwards had suffered at the finals when he cutely headed franco causio's free-kick past netolička. the game went straight to penalties and it was not until eight successful spot kicks apiece that netolička kept one out, fulvio collovati the man denied.
despite the result, the italians were applauded off by their home fans at the end, an attitude that would have its reward two years later when they became world champions.
