Danny Gabbidon was not fit for the kick-off, and will now look to be ready for Wednesday's game against Finland at the Millennium Stadium. His absence meant Wales started with Robert Page and Mark Delaney at centre-back.

The defeat comes as a massive blow to Wales' hopes of qualification, with the play-off route now looking more likely, should Wales qualify for the European Championship finals in Portugal.

A battling defensive display in the first-half saw Wales go in level at the break, and with luck on their side for the opening 45 minutes it looked like Wales could go on to gain a vital point, but the Azurri blitzed Wales in the second-half with a phenomenal display.

Filippo Inzaghi struck a hat-trick in 11 minutes, with Alessandro Del-Piero's penalty rubbing salt into the wounds of the Welsh players.

Inzaghi's first came on 58 minutes, when Alessandro Del-Piero saw his header turned onto the bar by Welsh 'keeper Paul Jones. The ball rebounded out, and Wales' luck ran-out as Inzaghi slotted the ball home.

The striker then netted his second only minutes later as he turned Oddo's cross past Jones with a neat finish.

Italy were rampant, and Inzaghi completed his hat-trick with just over twenty minutes to go with another impressive strike, before Del-Piero completed the emphatic victory from the penalty spot after Simon Davies upended Gianluca Zambrotta.

Robert Earnshaw and former City attacker Nathan Blake were both introduced by Mark Hughes, but neither made an impact as Wales slumped to their third consecutive loss.

The defeat means Italy leap-frog Wales into top spot in the group, with 13 points, and reality will have hit Welsh supporters when they look at the group table this evening, with Finland and Serbia still both in reach of Wales.

Wales must now look for a result from Wednesday's game with the Fins, but they will go into the game with a seriously depleted side. Robbie Savage, Craig Bellamy and Mark Delaney will all miss the clash, after receiving bookings tonight.

Italy: Buffon, Panucci, Zambrotta, Zanetti, Cannavaro, Nesta, Del Piero, Perrotta, Vieri, Inzaghi, Camoranesi. Subs: Toldo, Oddo, Legrottaglie, Gattuso, Fiore, Corradi, Delvecchio.

Wales: Paul Jones, Delaney, Speed, Koumas, Page, Pembridge, Savage, Bellamy, Hartson, Davies, Giggs. Subs: Crossley, Williams, Barnard, Johnson, Oster, Blake, Earnshaw.

Full Time - Italy 4-0 Wales

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