If rumours in the press are to be believed, a number of Italy players sent text messages to their dropped colleagues slamming the national coach after their shock 0-3 defeat to the Netherlands.

Italy lost 0-3 and Roberto Donadoni, who recently signed a contract extension that will keep him with the Azzurri till the 2010 World Cup, has come under heavy fire from the press for his decisions. Many wonder whether keeping Fabio Grosso and Daniele de Rossi on the bench and playing Marco Materazzi and Massimo Ambrosini was correct. Grosso did replace Materazzi in the second half eventually. Questions are also being raised as to why he waited till the 64th and 75th minute to introduce Alessandro del Piero and Antonio Cassano respectively.

Meanwhile, striker Luca Toni has reportedly said that a goal from anybody would do against their next opponents Romania - even goakeeper Gianluigi Buffon. That is probably taking desperation to new heights, but the Italians know better than everyone else that they need to win against Romania to keep their hopes alive.