France against Italy

A goal for Holland in Berne and Romania's brave charge is over. Italy are heading for the quarter finals, where they will more than likely face Spain. Ooh, tasty.

Camoranesi has a pop after Cassano spread the ball wide to him. Its deflected off Evra and behind for a corner.

Coupet again rushes out to deny Toni after Aquilani looked for him.

Now Henry gets a booking after a crunching, but ball-winning challenge, on Zambrotta. Useless refereeing. Its still a contact sport after all.

Henry is apoplectic after the referee denies him a corner. Domenech looks utterly dejected.

Now Cassano is at it, waving his arms at the fans after winning a free kick. Its all very well showboating now lads, but you've not played well, and you've had to rely on Holland doing you a favour. So shut it.

Gattuso is coming off, and gets a rousing reception from the Italian fans as he thumps the badge on his shirt. Aquilani is on.

We are just winding down to the inevitable here...

A bit more urgency from Romania in Berne but still no danger of a goal. Holland always threatening on the break too...

Italy are just playing keep ball now and France look knackered. This will go down as one of their worst tournaments in history.

Gallas is back on but not looking happy. France are basically playing with nine men at the minute.

That Buffon save has to be one of the best in the tournament so far. He's had little to do in the game but quick-stepped across his line and got fingertips to that Benzema effort. It was a certain goal if he hadn't got something on it.

Gallas charges in on Camoranesi and then collapses in a heap. No sign of any tears or tantrums yet.

What a save from Buffon! Benzema curls one towards the top corner and Buffon is across quick smart to turn it round the post. Brilliant.

Well, it looks like only Romania can deny Italy a place in the quarter finals now, but as my soccernet colleague Phil Holland reports, they aren't looking very likely. At all.

Camoranesi sweeps in a cross and Gallas manages to get his head in the way of Toni's flick. Italy have a corner.

Benzema finds space on the right which Clerc runs into but his cross was atrocious, then my mate Boumsong gets a yellow card for a poor challenge on Toni.

Cassano is down again, after a Platoon-style dive.

Henry didn't win a free kick in fact, he just fell over. The referee waved him up and said get on with it, or words to that effect.

Henry wins a free-kick as he and Evra combine down the left, and as the camera pans to Domenech, he looks on the verge of a nervous.

Gattuso goes down after the Makelele had slipped under pressure from Camoranesi. That looked painful.

Unless France pull of a Turkey-sized miracle, Romania are the only ones who can dent Italy's progress. No sign of a comeback from them at present though.

Anelka is coming on for Govou, as France roll the dice for the final time.

You have to feel for Thierry Henry. He's looked purposeful in both the games he has played, and just when France were on top, and Henry was looking lively, they've shipped a very unfortunate goal. Italy didn't deserve it at all based on their second half performance.

Perotta is off and Camoranesi has come on.

A huge deflection off Thierry Henry has taken Di Rossi's free kick away from Coupet and that should be that. Unlucky on France.

GOAL! Di Rossi scores and Italy should be through!

Cassano is in the wars again, Clerc hauls him down this time and should have been booked as they were plenty of Italian options open.

Coupet rushes out to nip the ball away from Toni as he chased down a Di Rossi through ball.

They just seem happy to lump it up to Luca Toni when they could work plenty of space and stretch France's ten men if they kept it on the deck with a bit of composure.

Toulalan has the ball and a bank of Italian midfielders and defenders stand in front of him. They are playing like the team with ten men.

Benzema nearly manages to burst through after Gattuso is caught in possession by Govou. Italy need to come out more. One more goal would put this to bed, instead they look intent on protecting what they've got.

So, Italy are in the box seat now if they can hold on. Romania now need two goals to save their skin. And France are in with a shout if they can overhaul this lead. Ooohhhh....

Massimo Ambrosini is coming on for Pirlo, like for like.

Goal in Berne, Huntelaar has scored and Holland lead Romania 1-0!

Gattuso gets a yellow for a clip on Makelele and he will miss the QF if Italy go through. Pirlo has also been booked so they'll need a new central midfield pairing if they progress.

henry again is in the action, side-stepping Pirlo before hitting a shot that Buffon had to scramble for. Italy are sitting worryingly deep.

Makelele finds Henry on the box edge and he shimmies past Panucci before firing a shot right at Buffon. France have started well in this second half.

In Zurich Benzema has flashed a volley just wide of the post after Govou's cross had deflected into his path.

Holland have very nearly taken the lead in Berne - Lobont has just made a tremendous point blank save from Van Persie.

Pirlo floats a ball into Toni who beats JAB in the air, but his knock down is too strong for Di Rossi and Evra steps in.

Govou goes into the book for a lunge on Cassano.

So, I wonder what Domenech said to his ten-men at half time? They are walking a tightrope, needing two goals to have any hope of going through but also needing to be as solid as possible. Tough one.

We begin again...

Makelele swings it in but Toni clears, and that is half time..

Henry wins another free kick and Chiellini gets a yellow card for the challenge.

Three minutes of time added....

After the ball came back off the post - Coupet got a brilliant touch to it by the way - Perotta went down when trying to claim the rebound. As France then broke Pirlo slid in on Benzema and was booked, meaning he'll miss the QF if they go through.

Grosso has hit the post! He bent the free-kick round the wall and it has cannoned back off the woodwork!

What a smashing run by Di Rossi, he jinked past Makelele and Toulalan before a Cryuff turn nearly set him clear on goal but for a foul. Free kick.

Benzema does well to work space with Gattusao snapping at his heels but his deep cross is well over the head of Henry, who was the only French player in the box.

I haven't even had time to ridicule JA Boumsong yet, and being a Newcastle fan, I'm pretty well qualified. He's toilet, believe me.

First sign that Cassano is getting twitchy - he's giving Boumsong some feedback.

Evra does well to slide in and block Gattuso's cross after a neat move involving Zambrotta and Perotta.

Oh dear, not Benzema's best five minutes this. His low free kick hits the wall then his follow-up flies well wide of the target. Henry gives him daggers.

Henry has won a free-kick from Gattuso as he looked to have a pop. Decent chance for the French, 25 yards out just left of centre.

Now Benzema has fluffed a simple ball wide to Evra.

Another forward move by the French as Henry holds off Panucci to lay the ball back to Benzema, who mis-controls.

France look like they've re-organised a little now. After the change Zambrotta and Toni were carving them open at will but they look a tad more solid now. What a shame Henry couldn't convert his chance, you get the feeling there won't be that many forthcoming.

Chance for France! Henry flashes a shot wide of the post after Toulalan slid him in down the right channel. A great ball and a wasted opportunity.

Govou isn't making any friends in the French side. Again he finds space to run at Grosso but despite having Henry and Benzema in support he loses possession and Italy earn a goal kick.

Toni again! Gattuso finds him in the area in space, he spins and hits on from 16 yards and screws it wide! He could have had a double hat-trick already!!

Toni again! A looping ball finds him edging in front of Gallas but he fluffs his attempted volley wide of the post. He should have had plenty by now..

So, the penalty decision. There was contact but Toni has made the absolute most if it, and once the ref gave the spot kick he had to send Abidal off, however you look at it.

Perotta swings in a cross, Toni gets a back flick on it and sends the ball inches wide. What an effort!

A neat move from Italy, Perotta spins inside the area and lays it off for Di Rossi who blazes his effort over the bar.

Jean Alain Boumsong has come on for Nasri - who has only been on the field for 16 minutes after replacing Ribery!

A smashing pen from Pirlo, he's smashed it into the top corner. Coupet had no chance.

Pirlo scores, and as it stands Italy are going through!

PENALTY ITALY! Abidal is sent off for bringing down Toni when he was bearing down on goal.

Nice link up between Govou, Toulalan and Benzema. The latter skips past Gattuso and looks for Henry in the box but Chiellini intercepts.

Half chance for Italy as Perotta was fed inside the box ahead of the last man. He couldn't get the ball under control though and Coupet is out to claim.

It's still all square in Berne between Holland and Romania by the way. I shall keep you bang up to date.

Govou has wasted a great chance. He had space on the right, options inside and out, but he chose to drag a poor shot ten yards wide of the target. Awful.

Coupet comes out to punch Pirlo's free-kick as Toni was lurking with intent.

Evra gets the game's first yellow after charging in on Cassano. Luckily the Italian doesn't get up and belt him. Free kick wide right.

Perotta tries to get Cassano on the ball but hits it out of play. Italy not fluid yet. Nor France actually. So, just to recap, no-one is fluid so far. Ok?

First sniff of goal for Karim Benzema but his punt from distance is scuffed somewhat and causes Buffon nee botha.

Grosso gets to the byline but doesn't get the necessary elevation on his cross to find the big man, Toni. Abidal clears at the near post.

Perotta breaks from midfield and Abidal does well to cut out a ball aimed for Toni.

Poor old Ribery. To be fair he's had little impact in the tournament so far, but big players like the big stage and tonight may well have been his night.

Panucci, who scored against Romania in Italy's last game, gets a strong header in from the corner and Makelele clears it off the line!

Italy win a corner as Toulalan heads Pirlo's free kick behind.

Ribery is in terrible trouble, he shouts at one of the physio's before Thierry Henry comes in to calm him down. He's leaving to a standing ovation and Nasri is on. Not ideal for the French.

The stretcher is on and Robery looks like he'll be making an early exit from the game - he's clearly in pain. Samir Nasri is preparing to come on.

Ribery is down clutching his ankle after fouling Zambrotta; cue concerned faces on the French bench.

Luca Toni won't be popular with his coach after that earlier miss. He HAD to take another touch and draw Coupet out before shooting but seemed to panic and slapped a shot in early.

Now Ribery breaks before Henry disrupts the momentum with some poor control. After he regained his composure he fed the ball back to Ribery who shot wide from a diffcult angle. A decent start to the game.

Great chance for Italy! The ball breaks for Toni, he's clean through but for some reason he chooses to shoot from 20 yards and misses! What was he thinking?!

The ball ran through a crowd of players, including Toulalan, before Zambrotta brings the ball clear.

Toni clears with a volley before Clerc wins another corner, this time on the right.

Ribery shoots, Panucci makes the block and France have a corner.

Just so you know, France are in Blue, Italy are in white. If there is some nugget of insight to expunge from that piece of information, I'm not sure what it is.

We're off...

Well, well, well. How the mighty have fallen eh? Who would have thought these two would be scrapping for their lives in the group of death? France need to win and hope Holland beat Romania, Italy can progress with a draw if Romania lose, but surely can't rely on that. Whatever happens, it should be pant-wettingly exciting.

As for Italy, Donadoni has gambled on the mercurial talent of Antonio Cassano in place of Del Piero. Only problem is, the lad is completely mental, and could blow up at any time. Gattuso is back for Mauro Camoranesi in the middle.

So, Domenech drops Thuram and recalls Benzema for this chrunchiest of crunch games. The young Lyon striker partners Thierry Henry up front, while Abidal will line-up alongside William Gallas at the back. Will it be enough to topple the World Champions?

France: Coupet, Clerc, Gallas, Abidal, Evra, Govou, Toulalan, Makelele, Ribery, Benzema and Henry. Subs from: Mandanda, Frey, Boumsong, Vieira, Malouda, Anelka, Nasri, Thuram, Squillaci, Gomis, Sagnol and Diarra.

The teams, Italy: Buffon, Zambrotta, Panucci, Chiellini, Grosso, Pirlo, De Rossi, Gattuso, Toni, Perrotta and Cassano. Subs from: Amelia, De Sanctis, Gamberini, Barzagli, Del Piero, Di Natale, Borriello, Ambrosini, Quagliarella, Camoranesi, Aquilani and Materazzi.

Join us at 1945BST to see if either Italy or France can finally win a game and give themselves a glimmer of hope in the 'group of death'. Were one of them to win they could still sneak through, depending on the Romania Holland outcome.

Well, it looks like only Romania can deny Italy a place in the quarter finals now, but as my soccernet colleague Phil Holland reports, they aren't looking very likely. At all.

Camoranesi sweeps in a cross and Gallas manages to get his head in the way of Toni's flick. Italy have a corner.

Benzema finds space on the right which Clerc runs into but his cross was atrocious, then my mate Boumsong gets a yellow card for a poor challenge on Toni.

Cassano is down again, after a Platoon-style dive.

Henry didn't win a free kick in fact, he just fell over. The referee waved him up and said get on with it, or words to that effect.

Henry wins a free-kick as he and Evra combine down the left, and as the camera pans to Domenech, he looks on the verge of a nervous.

Gattuso goes down after the Makelele had slipped under pressure from Camoranesi. That looked painful.

Unless France pull of a Turkey-sized miracle, Romania are the only ones who can dent Italy's progress. No sign of a comeback from them at present though.

Anelka is coming on for Govou, as France roll the dice for the final time.

You have to feel for Thierry Henry. He's looked purposeful in both the games he has played, and just when France were on top, and Henry was looking lively, they've shipped a very unfortunate goal. Italy didn't deserve it at all based on their second half performance.

Perotta is off and Camoranesi has come on.

A huge deflection off Thierry Henry has taken Di Rossi's free kick away from Coupet and that should be that. Unlucky on France.

GOAL! Di Rossi scores and Italy should be through!

Cassano is in the wars again, Clerc hauls him down this time and should have been booked as they were plenty of Italian options open.

Coupet rushes out to nip the ball away from Toni as he chased down a Di Rossi through ball.

They just seem happy to lump it up to Luca Toni when they could work plenty of space and stretch France's ten men if they kept it on the deck with a bit of composure.

Toulalan has the ball and a bank of Italian midfielders and defenders stand in front of him. They are playing like the team with ten men.

Benzema nearly manages to burst through after Gattuso is caught in possession by Govou. Italy need to come out more. One more goal would put this to bed, instead they look intent on protecting what they've got.

So, Italy are in the box seat now if they can hold on. Romania now need two goals to save their skin. And France are in with a shout if they can overhaul this lead. Ooohhhh....

Massimo Ambrosini is coming on for Pirlo, like for like.

Goal in Berne, Huntelaar has scored and Holland lead Romania 1-0!

Gattuso gets a yellow for a clip on Makelele and he will miss the QF if Italy go through. Pirlo has also been booked so they'll need a new central midfield pairing if they progress.

henry again is in the action, side-stepping Pirlo before hitting a shot that Buffon had to scramble for. Italy are sitting worryingly deep.

Makelele finds Henry on the box edge and he shimmies past Panucci before firing a shot right at Buffon. France have started well in this second half.

In Zurich Benzema has flashed a volley just wide of the post after Govou's cross had deflected into his path.

Holland have very nearly taken the lead in Berne - Lobont has just made a tremendous point blank save from Van Persie.

Pirlo floats a ball into Toni who beats JAB in the air, but his knock down is too strong for Di Rossi and Evra steps in.

Govou goes into the book for a lunge on Cassano.

So, I wonder what Domenech said to his ten-men at half time? They are walking a tightrope, needing two goals to have any hope of going through but also needing to be as solid as possible. Tough one.

We begin again...

Makelele swings it in but Toni clears, and that is half time..

Henry wins another free kick and Chiellini gets a yellow card for the challenge.

Three minutes of time added....

After the ball came back off the post - Coupet got a brilliant touch to it by the way - Perotta went down when trying to claim the rebound. As France then broke Pirlo slid in on Benzema and was booked, meaning he'll miss the QF if they go through.

Grosso has hit the post! He bent the free-kick round the wall and it has cannoned back off the woodwork!

What a smashing run by Di Rossi, he jinked past Makelele and Toulalan before a Cryuff turn nearly set him clear on goal but for a foul. Free kick.

Benzema does well to work space with Gattusao snapping at his heels but his deep cross is well over the head of Henry, who was the only French player in the box.

I haven't even had time to ridicule JA Boumsong yet, and being a Newcastle fan, I'm pretty well qualified. He's toilet, believe me.

First sign that Cassano is getting twitchy - he's giving Boumsong some feedback.

Evra does well to slide in and block Gattuso's cross after a neat move involving Zambrotta and Perotta.

Oh dear, not Benzema's best five minutes this. His low free kick hits the wall then his follow-up flies well wide of the target. Henry gives him daggers.

Henry has won a free-kick from Gattuso as he looked to have a pop. Decent chance for the French, 25 yards out just left of centre.

Now Benzema has fluffed a simple ball wide to Evra.

Another forward move by the French as Henry holds off Panucci to lay the ball back to Benzema, who mis-controls.

France look like they've re-organised a little now. After the change Zambrotta and Toni were carving them open at will but they look a tad more solid now. What a shame Henry couldn't convert his chance, you get the feeling there won't be that many forthcoming.

Chance for France! Henry flashes a shot wide of the post after Toulalan slid him in down the right channel. A great ball and a wasted opportunity.

Govou isn't making any friends in the French side. Again he finds space to run at Grosso but despite having Henry and Benzema in support he loses possession and Italy earn a goal kick.

Toni again! Gattuso finds him in the area in space, he spins and hits on from 16 yards and screws it wide! He could have had a double hat-trick already!!

Toni again! A looping ball finds him edging in front of Gallas but he fluffs his attempted volley wide of the post. He should have had plenty by now..

So, the penalty decision. There was contact but Toni has made the absolute most if it, and once the ref gave the spot kick he had to send Abidal off, however you look at it.

Perotta swings in a cross, Toni gets a back flick on it and sends the ball inches wide. What an effort!

A neat move from Italy, Perotta spins inside the area and lays it off for Di Rossi who blazes his effort over the bar.

Jean Alain Boumsong has come on for Nasri - who has only been on the field for 16 minutes after replacing Ribery!

A smashing pen from Pirlo, he's smashed it into the top corner. Coupet had no chance.

Pirlo scores, and as it stands Italy are going through!

PENALTY ITALY! Abidal is sent off for bringing down Toni when he was bearing down on goal.

Nice link up between Govou, Toulalan and Benzema. The latter skips past Gattuso and looks for Henry in the box but Chiellini intercepts.

Half chance for Italy as Perotta was fed inside the box ahead of the last man. He couldn't get the ball under control though and Coupet is out to claim.

It's still all square in Berne between Holland and Romania by the way. I shall keep you bang up to date.

Govou has wasted a great chance. He had space on the right, options inside and out, but he chose to drag a poor shot ten yards wide of the target. Awful.

Coupet comes out to punch Pirlo's free-kick as Toni was lurking with intent.

Evra gets the game's first yellow after charging in on Cassano. Luckily the Italian doesn't get up and belt him. Free kick wide right.

Perotta tries to get Cassano on the ball but hits it out of play. Italy not fluid yet. Nor France actually. So, just to recap, no-one is fluid so far. Ok?

First sniff of goal for Karim Benzema but his punt from distance is scuffed somewhat and causes Buffon nee botha.

Grosso gets to the byline but doesn't get the necessary elevation on his cross to find the big man, Toni. Abidal clears at the near post.

Perotta breaks from midfield and Abidal does well to cut out a ball aimed for Toni.

Poor old Ribery. To be fair he's had little impact in the tournament so far, but big players like the big stage and tonight may well have been his night.

Panucci, who scored against Romania in Italy's last game, gets a strong header in from the corner and Makelele clears it off the line!

Italy win a corner as Toulalan heads Pirlo's free kick behind.

Ribery is in terrible trouble, he shouts at one of the physio's before Thierry Henry comes in to calm him down. He's leaving to a standing ovation and Nasri is on. Not ideal for the French.

The stretcher is on and Robery looks like he'll be making an early exit from the game - he's clearly in pain. Samir Nasri is preparing to come on.

Ribery is down clutching his ankle after fouling Zambrotta; cue concerned faces on the French bench.

Luca Toni won't be popular with his coach after that earlier miss. He HAD to take another touch and draw Coupet out before shooting but seemed to panic and slapped a shot in early.

Now Ribery breaks before Henry disrupts the momentum with some poor control. After he regained his composure he fed the ball back to Ribery who shot wide from a diffcult angle. A decent start to the game.

Great chance for Italy! The ball breaks for Toni, he's clean through but for some reason he chooses to shoot from 20 yards and misses! What was he thinking?!

The ball ran through a crowd of players, including Toulalan, before Zambrotta brings the ball clear.

Toni clears with a volley before Clerc wins another corner, this time on the right.

Ribery shoots, Panucci makes the block and France have a corner.

Just so you know, France are in Blue, Italy are in white. If there is some nugget of insight to expunge from that piece of information, I'm not sure what it is.

We're off...

Well, well, well. How the mighty have fallen eh? Who would have thought these two would be scrapping for their lives in the group of death? France need to win and hope Holland beat Romania, Italy can progress with a draw if Romania lose, but surely can't rely on that. Whatever happens, it should be pant-wettingly exciting.

As for Italy, Donadoni has gambled on the mercurial talent of Antonio Cassano in place of Del Piero. Only problem is, the lad is completely mental, and could blow up at any time. Gattuso is back for Mauro Camoranesi in the middle.

So, Domenech drops Thuram and recalls Benzema for this chrunchiest of crunch games. The young Lyon striker partners Thierry Henry up front, while Abidal will line-up alongside William Gallas at the back. Will it be enough to topple the World Champions?

France: Coupet, Clerc, Gallas, Abidal, Evra, Govou, Toulalan, Makelele, Ribery, Benzema and Henry. Subs from: Mandanda, Frey, Boumsong, Vieira, Malouda, Anelka, Nasri, Thuram, Squillaci, Gomis, Sagnol and Diarra.

The teams, Italy: Buffon, Zambrotta, Panucci, Chiellini, Grosso, Pirlo, De Rossi, Gattuso, Toni, Perrotta and Cassano. Subs from: Amelia, De Sanctis, Gamberini, Barzagli, Del Piero, Di Natale, Borriello, Ambrosini, Quagliarella, Camoranesi, Aquilani and Materazzi.

Join us at 1945BST to see if either Italy or France can finally win a game and give themselves a glimmer of hope in the 'group of death'. Were one of them to win they could still sneak through, depending on the Romania Holland outcome.