After booking their ticket to next summer’s footballing extravaganza in Switzerland and Austria, Italy manager Roberto Donadoni fired the first salvo at his counterparts with an affirmation that his team has grown even stronger since their World Cup glory.

He said: “This team can go head-to-head with any team in the world and not fear them. The Scotland game was an excellent match. Every game this Italy team play we add more and get stronger.”

Italy took the lead in the second minute of play. A quick throw-in caught the Scottish defence off-gurad, allowing Luca Toni to toe-poke from close range after meeting a low cross from Antonio Di Natale.

However, Scotland did not give up and deservedly equalized when Barry Ferguson converted from close range. But just as it looked as if Scotland would eke out a point, they were dealt a killer blow in injury time. Christian Panucci met Andrea Pirlo’s controversial free kick with a looping header over the stranded Scottish goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

Scotland had not featured at a major championships since 1998 World Cup. But after stunning Les Bleus’ twice in group B, the final group match against Italy leaves them on the brink of creating history. They certainly gave Italy a torrid time for long spells on Saturday.

A Scotland win would see them through and a draw would leave them still in if Ukraine shock France next Wednesday. Unfortunately, Scotland had their dreams shattered and will now watch the action at home next year.

Despite Italy’s pedigree, the Scots’ came into the game with a swagger. After scoring the equalizer, they roared back into the game and in the last 10 minutes, had the Italians on the ropes. They surged forward in droves and and nearly snatched a winner when James McFadden slid in to send a six-meter shot just wide of the post.

McLeish told a news conference: “We didn’t deserve to lose today. I am very disappointed with the decision for their second goal. I’ve seen it on television and it’s unbelievable.”

The Italian press are delighted with the last minute 2-1 win over Scotland. They had previously sharpened their knifes at the floundering campaign.

With just one point from their opening two games, Donadoni couldn’t have a more miserable start. An embarrassing home draw against Lithuania and a comprehensive 3-1 defeat in France had the critics baying for his blood. The situation wasn’t helped by Donadoni inheriting a championship team from Marcelo Lippi.

But now that he has crossed the treacherous terrain in one piece, he can look forward to a peaceful winter before stepping into the pressure-cooker again.

Donadoni doesn’t appreciate the reprieve though. He raised the stakes by declaring his desire to benchmark his team against the all conquering AC Milan (under Arrigo Sacchi), which swept titles with an unrelenting mental fortitude. He was formerly a right winger in the team that won two successive European Cups and played alongside legends like Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, Marco Van Basten, and Paolo Maldini.

Transplanting the heart and soul of Milan into the national team will be his agenda for the coming days. He said: “I imagine the European Championships will be no easier than the World Cup. We are going there with one ambition: to play to win. It’s my dream to create a squad with a winners’ mentality, capable of achieving great things. Like my Milan.”

Noble ambition but if the end product turns out to be grossly off-target, he may find that lifting the expectations of an already demanding nation is not the wisest of moves.

Nevertheless, if all is lost, he can still bank on one resilient characteristic of the Italians: they are at their best when they are caught in a crisis. Throughout their history, sporting success always follows an unsavory incident.

Italy won the World Cup in 1982 following the fall-out from the Totonero scandal. Last year, they went into World Cup finals with the biggest match-fixing scandal causing uncertainties for players and clubs but that could not stop the Azzurri from claiming a fourth world crown. This time, the fatal shooting of a football fan following hooligan violence awoke the team from their slumber and qualification for Euro 2008 was secured.

It would be a folly to write them off. Italy have the talents to charge all the way into the semis at Euro 08 and if they really needed the extra push, simple: just create another scandal and unite the team and nation together.