Romania striker Adrian Mutu has apologised for his penalty miss against Italy - but has vowed to make amends against Holland in their next game.

The Fiorentina star opened the scoring after 55 minutes after picking up a woeful back pass from Gianluca Zambrotta, but Italy hit back just one minute later through Christian Panucci.

With the score at 1-1 going into the last 10 minutes, Romania were handed a golden opportunity to send the world champions out of the tournament as Panucci was deemed to have pulled down Daniel Niculae.

But Mutu was unable to beat Gianluigi Buffon in the Italian goal who, with a combination of hand and foot, kept it out and preserved Italy's slender hopes.

Romania remain a point ahead of France and Italy going into their final game against Holland on Tuesday and Mutu is convinced he will fire his side into the quarter-finals.

"I apologise for the missed penalty," he told Gazeta Sporturilor.

"I will take revenge against the Netherlands."