Azzurrini hopes shattered

Talent and confidence
It was fitting that the UEFA European Under-21 Champions progressed further than the other two entrants from this continent, but Claudio Gentile's young team could not build on their quarter-final defeat of Mali against an Argentina side brimming with talent and confidence.

Tevez opener
CA River Plate prodigy Carlos Tévez opened the scoring for the South Americans in the 16th minute, capitalising on hesitant Italian defending to drill his seventh goal of the competition high beyond Ivan Pelizzoli of AS Roma.

Mean defence
The Azzurrini had played imaginatively until that point, but they found chances harder to come by as Valencia CF's Roberto Ayala and Gabriel Heinze of Manchester United FC tightened up the Argentina rearguard.

Gold trail
Marcelo Bielsa's men were content to play on the counter, and further goals from Luis González (69) and substitute Mariano González (84) sealed a comprehensive success. Argentina, who have not won a gold medal in any sport since the 1952 games in Helsinki, will play Paraguay in the final.

Paraguay progress
Paraguay ended Iraq's hopes with a 3-1 win in the second semi-final, striker José Cardozo scoring twice and Fredy Bareiro adding a third. Substitute Razzaq Farhan reduced the deficit with seven minutes left, but it was too late and Iraq will now face Italy on Friday in the bronze-medal match.