2002 World Cup - Italy 1 Hungary 0

Italy managed the win they needed to seal a place in the 2002 World Cup finals with a free kick in the 44th minute from Alessandro Del Piero easing them past Hungary in Parma.

Giovanni Trapattoni will now plan an attempt to win a fourth World Cup next June but the signs of greatness from his team so far are only modest.

Filippo Inzaghi forced a save from Gabor Kiraly and then Alessandro Del Piero had a shot blocked in the best move of the opening minutes for the home team.

Italy should then have conceded a penalty kick when Attila Tokoli was pulled back by Marco Materazzi but Paraguayan referee Gonzalez Chavez waved play on after the blatant foul.

Inzaghi was sent in on goal by Francesco Totti and the Milan star brought the ball down into his run well with his chest and shot on target but Hungary goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly parried the cross shot with his foot.

Del Piero won the decisive free kick just before the break when he was fouled by Bodnar and the Juventus striker curled a great shot into far corner beyond Kiraly.

Totti brought a good second half save from Kiraly but the half gradually deteriorated into a succession of substitutions as Italy got the job done with the minimum of fuss and the fans started to party.