Tag Team of Vieri, Baggio Too Much for Austria, 2-1

Filippo Inzaghi’s pass had been so perfect and so generous, Roberto Baggio felt compelled to reward him after Baggio scored what would hold up as the decisive goal in Italy’s 2-1 victory over Austria on Tuesday at the Stade de France.

A standard hug wasn’t enough, not for setting up the goal that enabled Italy to clinch first place in Group B. So Baggio pointed to his teammate, smiled, and lowered his shoulders so Inzaghi could climb aboard for a brief but happy piggyback ride.

It was only appropriate. In what was supposed to be the fading stage of Baggio’s great career, the 31-year-old striker is still carrying Italy on his back. And he has received surprisingly solid support from Inzaghi and Christian Vieri, both 24, in leading Italy to a second-round matchup with Norway on Saturday at Marseille.

“I got my goal thanks to Filippo Inzaghi, who played a great through ball,” said Baggio, who was a substitute Tuesday after having started Italy’s first two games. “I was pleased to have come on during the match and to have scored.

“I hope that all the forwards will get the chance to play, as each one has a lot of potential, like the rest of the team.”

Vieri, who is husky and physical rather than slender and tricky, seems to have the most potential.

He scored Italy’s first goal, in the 49th minute, after Alessandro Del Piero was fouled by Austria’s Peter Schottel and Italy was awarded a free kick. Del Piero, who started up front beside Vieri, sent the ball into the box, where Vieri edged behind a defender, leaped high in the air and headed it past goalkeeper Michael Konsel. The goal was his fourth, tying him with Gabriel Batistuta of Argentina for the tournament lead.

“I am not looking to be the top scorer. The main thing is that the team qualifies,” said Vieri. “The whole team contributed to the win. We haven’t always played well, but we have done what we set out to do, despite the pressure.”

Baggio, who replaced Del Piero in the 72nd minute, struck in the 90th minute. Inzaghi, who had come on for Vieri in the 59th minute, found space up the right side while Austria pressed for a goal that would keep alive its hopes of advancing. Inzaghi slipped a short pass over to his left, to Baggio, who had an empty net.

“I was very happy to have made a decisive final ball to Roberto Baggio,” Inzaghi said. “He was in a better position than me. I did not score today, but I hope to next time.”

Austria, which had tied its previous games, managed to break through in injury time after Hannes Reinmayr was pulled down and Andreas Herzog was given a penalty kick. Herzog outguessed Italian goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca by shooting into the upper-right corner, but Austria ran out of time and is going home.

“We believed we could win right until the end,” said Coach Herbert Prohaska, who disputed the severity of the foul that preceded the free kick on Italy’s first goal. “We kept on attacking and Italy was countering. . . . Italy defended really well, and I wish them luck. We fought well and we demonstrated we were entitled to be here, and we are disappointed.”

Said team captain Anton Polster: “It’s no good leaving the pitch feeling sorry for ourselves, because we failed to make the most of the chances we had. The difference between the teams is clear: It’s little Austria against big Italy. The Italy team was not particularly strong and the referee’s decisions went in their favor.”

Not everything went Italy’s way. It lost defender Alessandro Nesta because of injured ligaments in his right leg, and he’s not expected to return in the tournament. However, Italy’s newfound offensive prowess should help offset any defensive difficulties.

“I replaced Del Piero and Vieri in the second half because both looked extremely tired. It’s good to have two great strikers on the bench and have the chance to rotate them,” Italian Coach Cesare Maldini said. “I don’t want to talk about one individual player. This victory is about all the players who contributed.

“I am not even thinking about the second-round match. I just want to celebrate this moment.”