ROME - It's a measure of the degree of improvement in Scottish football that the Tartan Army's 2-0 defeat in Georgia, a result that has compromised their Euro 2008 qualification hopes, was greeted with surprise and delight in Italy.
Italy may be World Cup holders but there was little disguising the glee at a result in Tbilisi which means the Azzurri only need to draw with Scotland at Hampden Park and then win their home game with the Faroe Islands to qualify for the finals in Switzerland and Austria.
With France having beaten Lithuania 2-0, a Scottish win against Georgia would have left the world champions facing the very real prospect of elimination from the competition at the qualifying stage.
Sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport headlined its piece - illustrated with a picture of Georgia goalscorer Levan Mchedlidze who plays in Italy with Empoli - "Scotland KO by Georgia gives a smile to Italy."
The paper noted: "Scotland have lost. The news so long-awaited by (Roberto) Donadoni's Italy, which in Group B of Euro 2008 qualifiers has the British side and France as rivals, has come."
Corriere della Sera hailed the youth of the Georgian side that dealt a severe blow to Alex McLeish's side.
"The Georgians played with a very green team - even the goalkeeper, who was making his debut, was 17. Now it's down to Italy to keep its part of the bargain at Glasgow to obtain qualification for the final phase. The Azzurri need a draw."
La Repubblica also savoured the unexpected gift. Referring also to Italy's 2-0 friendly win over South Africa in Siena, sealed by two Cristiano Lucarelli goals, its headline read: "Lucarelli double. Italy enjoys itself and thanks Georgia."
But the paper adds a note of caution, saying: "The match in Glasgow on November 17 remains crucial."
Il Gazzettino di Parma reveals how the announcement of the Scotland result at Italy's game in Tuscany had boosted the spirits.
"Blessed Georgia!" headlined the paper. "We only need a draw in Scotland."
The paper continued: "The news was announced when Italy's players were already out on the pitch."
Not all the papers were content with belittling Scotland. Il Messagero may have joined in the euphoria at Scotland's setback, saying "the result suits Italy very well".
However, for its illustration the paper produced a photo that would doubtless lift spirits in Glasgow as well as Rome with England's Steven Gerrard clasping his hands to his head in despair as Russian players celebrated a 2-1 win for Guus Hiddink's side in Moscow.
