Toni on the double as Scottish hopes nosedive

SCOTLAND’S Euro 2008 qualification hopes suffered a blow as they lost to two Luca Toni goals as Italy won 2-0 in Bari.

Confidence had been high after Saturday’s 2-1 win over Georgia saw the Scots remain at the top of Group B, along with France.

But a Toni double gave the world champions a much-needed victory after four months out of action and just two previous wins in the group.

Scotland manager Alex McLeish refused to criticise his players after an industrious performance.

He said: “I think it was a decent performance. I’ve no complaints about the lads and their efforts this whole week.

“We got forward at times and had some near things but not near enough. We just need that killer touch in front of goal.”

Scotland will now have to turn their attention to their trip to the Faroe Islands in June in a bid to steer their campaign back on track.

Italy took the lead after just 12 minutes when Toni won a free-kick on the edge of the box from a Stephen McManus foul.

Massimo Oddo flighted the ball into the box and Toni left goalkeeper Craig Gordon with no chance with a header from 10 yards.

Scotland had the chance to force their way back into the game when they won their first corner and Hartley sent a dangerous ball into the box.

McManus connected and tried his luck with the shot but the ball fell to the feet of Miller, whose effort at the near post was cleared.

Buffon had not been tested at all but the Italy goalkeeper was called into action to block a 30-yard effort from Lee McCulloch.

It was proving to be a busy night for Gordon, who then managed to hold a Toni effort after he had been set up for the shot by Di Natale.

Scotland’s hopes of a comeback were shattered when Toni grabbed his second goal of the night after 70 minutes.

Gennaro Gattuso drove the ball forward to Camoranesi, whose cross was met by the Italy striker and he did well to send a header past Gordon.

ITALY: Buffon, Oddo, Cannavaro, Materazzi, Zambrotta, Gattuso, De Rossi, Camoranesi, Perrotta (Pirlo 77), Di Natale (Del Piero 66), Toni (Quagliarella 87).

SCOTLAND: Gordon, Graham Alexander, Naysmith, Weir, McManus, Ferguson, Teale (Maloney 66), Hartley, Brown (Beattie 86), McCulloch (Boyd 81), Miller.

Referee: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium).