Toni and Mutu star in passion play

Currently running at Zurich's Helmhause gallery is the soccer-themed exhibition Ball & Brains. The very first installations on entering are framed pictures of the Gazzetta dello Sport front pages the morning after each of Italy's four FIFA World Cup victories.

Focus
Today's cover star was Luca Toni, but it was another hero of 2006, fellow forward Alessandro Del Piero, who was the focus of most pre-match attention before today's encounter with Romania at the Letzigrund. But as it turned out, perhaps the key to this 1-1 draw were Toni and another striker, Adrian Mutu – who had announced beforehand that he was in a "psychological battle" of phone calls with his former ACF Fiorentina team-mate.

Aerial threat
Del Piero's selection was the most notable of five changes to the side that started Italy's UEFA European Championship record 3-0 defeat by the Netherlands in Berne on Monday. However, the newcomer who was having most effect on Italy's attacking game was Fabio Grosso, overlapping down the left and regularly outdoing Romania right-winger Florentin Petre, a full 26cm shorter than the Azzurri full-back. As a result, Italy were relying mostly on high crosses, not just from Grosso but also from Andrea Pirlo's set-pieces, which meant that the main aim of their attack was the towering Toni rather than Del Piero.

Mutu menace
At the other end Mutu was engaged in an intriguing tussle with two centre-halves forming a new partnership – both of whom had, at different times, been colleagues of the No10 – Christian Panucci at FC Internazionale Milano and Giorgio Chiellini with Juventus. Mutu had an effort within the first minute and, typical of his intelligent and tenacious play, was just past the quarter-hour when he got behind his markers only for Gianluigi Buffon to stand firm. It was not the last time he would prove the striker's nemesis. Italy were still having most of the play, but despite all the alterations from Monday the same ill-luck in front of goal was evident for Toni. As if to underline the point, when he did head the ball in just before the break, the assistant's flag was raised for offside.

Reward
It was Mutu's probing rather than Toni's physical presence that eventually broke the deadlock when Gianluca Zambrotta, to his horror, saw Romania's talisman intercept his header back to Buffon, who had little chance with the fiercely struck shot. Italy swiftly equalised, naturally enough from a header, although it was Chiellini who combined with Panucci instead of Toni with Del Piero or vice versa.

Last twist
As Italy pushed for a winner, Del Piero was quietly withdrawn for the taller Fabio Quagliarella, but with nine minutes remaining Mutu was again in the spotlight. After he had crossed into the box, Daniel Niculae was pulled down by the other goalscorer, Panucci. However, Mutu's penalty was brilliantly saved by yet another of his former team-mates, Buffon. In a football match which had the raw emotion of an opera rather than the cool reflection of an exhibition, it was appropriate that the plot should take yet another melodramatic twist.