Prandelli protests Armenia goal

Andrea Pirlo put the visitor ahead from the penalty spot in the 13th minute but a spirited Armenia levelled in controversial circumstances a quarter-of-an-hour later.

Referee Marijo Strahonja did not blow his whistle despite seeing a clash of heads between Christian Maggio and Davit Manoyan, allowing Henrikh Mkhitaryan to surge forward and beat Gianluigi Buffon with an angled drive at his far post.

Italy won 3-1 to reinforce its lead of Group B but despite being buoyed by an improved all round performance Prandelli suggested Armenia's 27th-minute leveller should not have stood.

"When two players collide with their heads, you stop play. The referee didn't do it and that's why I protested," said the Italy coach.

Italy retook the lead when Roma's Daniele De Rossi got his head to a superb curling free-kick from Pirlo.

Argentina-born striker Pablo Osvaldo made it an all-Rome third goal for the visitor when he headed De Rossi's 82nd-minute free-kick past Roman Berezovsky in the Armenia goal.