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Donadoni 'never doubted Italian progress'

18/06/2008

Italy coach Roberto Donadoni has claimed he "never had any doubts" that his side would qualify for the quarter-finals of Euro 2008.

The world champions secured their passage into the last-eight with a relatively comfortable 2-0 victory over France, thanks to goals from Andrea Pirlo and Daniele de Rossi.

And despite relying on the right result from the other group match, which was confirmed with the Netherlands' 2-0 win over Romania, Donadoni suggested he knew all along that his side would be good enough to reach the knockout stages.

"I never had any doubts. I knew that it would turn out like this," he said afterwards.

"We've got a great group that really sticks together and has the right spirit."

Donadoni said his team had put in "a good performance" against the French, who finished bottom of group C with only one point and one goal from their three matches.

But he admitted his Italian team had found it more difficult than expected after seeing their opponents reduced to ten men following Eric Abidal's sending off.

"Perhaps we were playing better 11 against 11," he said.

"After that a bit of fear and nerves came in, but it was a great response from everyone."