Odds on Luigi Di Biagio or Robbie Savage lasting the full 90 minutes without receiving another yellow card?

Di Biagio is punished for a high boot, that might have been a second yellow.

This time it's Wales who get some fortune.

Robbie Savage gives away a soft free-kick and Ryan Giggs doesn't cover himself in glory in the wall, turning his back on Andrea Pirlo's effort.

The ball cannoned off Giggs' head and Paul Jones was again wrong-footed, but this time he was able to get a hand to the ball and divert it onto the top of the crossbar.

It looks messy, but it's a vital save, a super stop from Jones who, the replay shows, adjusted his body brilliantly.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Robbie Savage is walking a tight rope at the moment.

Already on a yellow card, the Wales midfielder has conceded another free-kick - in a dangerous position - but there is some sympathy for him.

"A strange decision," commentator Ian Gwyn Hughes says.

Ian Walsh agrees, adding: "I told you to watch this referee."

Image source, Getty Images

It’s no surprise that there’s been a fair bit of chat about Italy’s centre-backs, what with them being two of the best in the world at the time of this match.

But what about the man winning only his fourth cap at the heart of the Welsh defence?

Cardiff City’s 23-year-old Danny Gabbidon has been superb all evening, taking everything in his stride to such an extent that you’d be forgiven for forgetting he’s playing in the third tier of the English football at the moment.

You certainly wouldn’t think so judging by the ease with which he’s been marking Italy and Roma striker Vincenzo Montella.

You might recall Montella was known as the ‘Little Airplane’ because of his goal celebration, in which he spread his arms out like wings. It doesn’t look like he’ll get a chance to show that off today.

Another speculative effort, this time from Wales, as John Hartson looks to clip the ball from 20-yards with Gianluigi Buffon just off his line.

Top marks for ambition, execution not bad, but it would have needed to be perfect.

Roma striker Vincenzo Montella tests Paul Jones with a crisp turn and shot from the edge of the penalty area, but his left-footed effort didn't match his excellent control and it was easy for the Wales goalkeeper.

Have a look at this banner on show at the Millennium Stadium.

A sentiment we can all get behind.

We are back under way in the Welsh capital.

Well that 45 minutes just flew by and Wales will feel they are a little unlucky to be heading in level rather than ahead.

They scored a sensational goal and while they haven't exactly been threatening Gianluigi Buffon regularly, they are making the Italians uncomfortable.

At the other end, Wales have been good. Young Daniel Gabbidon has been excellent in only his fourth Wales game and Mark Pembridge and Robbie Savage are snarling around to keep Wales ticking.

The Italian equaliser was very fortunate, both with the awarding of the free-kick and the shot itself.

There is all to play for in the second half, but it's hard not to anticipate the Italians improving.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

No prizes for guessing who opponents singled out for special attention when they played Wales at this time. Ryan Giggs.

Italy were no different and their doubling-up on the Manchester United winger had kept him quiet up until the final five minutes of the first half, when he gave a reminder of his threat with a rapid counter-attack and that free-kick which hit the bar.

Although Giggs helped Wales make a strong start to this qualifying campaign, he would never represent Wales at a major tournament, falling just short in 1993 and 2003.

Wales' big number nine has been superb so far, holding up the ball and linking in others, but Wales have struggled to give him any ammunition to be a goal threat.

However, that's the cross we want to see, just into first-half stoppage time as Simon Davies' deep ball finds him, but Hartson heads over, under pressure from Alessandro Nesta.

A nice way to end the half.

A slight moment of concern there for Wales, but they blocked Alessandro Del Piero's effort.

The Juventus forward is a one-man attack at times in the absence of the injured Filipo Inzaghe and Francesco Totti.

Wales are really not having any luck from set-pieces!

Luigi Di Biagio is adjudged to have fouled Robbie Savage, but it looked a little soft.

Anyway, Ryan Giggs' free-kick is an absolute peach of an effort, dipping and swerving over the wall and away from Gianluigi Buffon, but the crossbar denies him with the goalkeeper beaten all ends up.

It was almost perfection. And that after conceding a heavily deflected free-kick. Rotten luck for Wales.

Best move of the match from Italy who come within a whisker of taking the lead.

Damiano Tommasi made a clever run to get the better of Gary Speed and acrobatically crossed a direct, long ball into the path of Vincenzo Montella, whose vicious volley just crept past the upright.