Italy 3-1 win against Faroe Islands

World champions Italy eased to a 3-1 victory against minnows Faroe Islands in a Euro 2008 qualifier here on Wednesday.

In a game that had nothing resting on it following Italy's weekend win in Glasgow, which secured their passage to Austria and Switzerland next year, both players and fans seemed subdued. But Italy coach Roberto Donadoni was not worried, preferring to reflect on a successful campaign.

"The lads did a very good job and I think it's important to say that," he said. "It wasn't an easy group with France and Scotland and someone said that's it's normal for Italy to qualify for the European Championships but that wasn't true. For this reason it was a great achievement."

Donadoni also answered press reports that he had demanded a new contract before next year's finals, amid speculation that he may not remain at the helm until then, particularly with Fabio Capello out of work.

"I'm not happy about what was written, it's not true and I don't know why these things are coming out," he said.Donadoni had selected a largely second-string outfit and they took their time to gel before opening the scoring in the 10th minute.

Three minutes earlier Frooi Benjaminsen had come to the visitors' rescue with a last ditched block to deny Simone Perrotta but when AC Milan full-back Massimo Oddo scampered down the right, the centre-back inadvertently turned the subsequent cross into his own net.

Five minutes later Faroes goalkeeper and captain Jakup Mikkelsen made a sprawling save to deny Bayern Munich's Luca Toni as Italy dictated proceedings. They didn't have it all their own way, though, as Rogvi Jacobsen put the ball in their net on 34 minutes, only for his effort to be ruled out for a foul - even the home fans seemed slightly disappointed by that outcome.

Only two more minutes passed, though, before Toni doubled the advantage with a smart turn and volley from Fabio Grosso's left-wing centre. Four minutes before the break Juventus centre-back Giorgio Chiellini scored his first goal for his country in only his ninth appearance, slashing home a scorcher from 25 yards after striding up from the back.

However, the Faroes proved a muscular presence and were disciplined in tracking back, exploiting the shortcomings of a weakened Italy side missing the likes of Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Mauro Camorenesi and Gianluca Zambrotta.

Five minutes after the break the Faroes came close to scoring as Suni Olsen, who plays in Denmark, fired a dipping free-kick inches over the bar. If Italy's foot was only barely touching the accelerator in the first period, it came completely off it in the second, leaving the fans to amuse themselves by jumping up and down and chanting a song mocking France.

By now the momentum had firmly swung towards the visitors.Jacobsen twice threatened to force Livorno goalkeeper Marco Amelia, playing in place of Gianluigi Buffon, into warming his hands, but he missed the target on both occasions when well placed.

Italy failed to heed the warnings and Jacobsen got the goal he deserved - and a round of applause from home fans - six minutes from the end when he headed home Johan Davidsen's deep right-wing cross into the top corner, leaving Amelia helpless. And he almost added a second, hitting the post with a firm downward header in the last minute.