SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Italy prepare for crucial Slovakia match

Record ID: 1534052

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Italy prepare for crucial Slovakia match
  • Date: 24th June 2010
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 23, 2010) (REUTERS) NEWS CONFERENCE BY ITALIAN TEAM COACH MARCELLO LIPPI AND CAPTAIN FABIO CANNAVARO (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN TEAM COACH MARCELLO LIPPI, SAYING: "We expect them to play how they did in their last two matches, their characteristics. Slovakia have very good and very fast forwards. They attack and they alternate their positions quickly. They change that quickly, we've seen it in many matches, including these two. I don't think that they are going to change all that much tomorrow. They know they only have one result that they can use in order to stay on and they will try as hard as they can. We are not going to change that much, we are not going to change anything. We're just going to try and attack better than we have done so far. And now we'll try to do again what we've done thus far in our defence. Maybe we're going to pay attention to a couple of details, and also in midfield. And the attack has to improve, there is room for improvement there is no doubt." JOURNALISTS AT CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN TEAM CAPTAIN FABIO CANNAVARO, SAYING: "As I said already I must have left some nice memories behind. My concern is not to play a good match at a personal level, I want to qualify with the whole team that's my idea. Because personally you can look at it whichever way you like. I am quite happy with how things are turning out now, but as I said earlier we still need a win, that's going to change everything." MORE JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN TEAM CAPTAIN FABIO CANNAVARO, SAYING: "We need to win, as I said earlier we've been working hard for some time and a win boosts your morale and it pushes you to move forward and to work as hard as we have worked so far. This eve of the match? Well, I've seen worse. I've seen many that have been worse over the past few years. But I've seen the team play two good matches, we didn't get good results, but the team is alive and kicking. And nobody put us down and this is a good sign. Any of you been to Japan? That was much worse, I can assure you - far worse." NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 9th July 2010 17:47
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA9ZEF4RGE9KUJ147HTYVEGSP95
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Italy will be flirting with an embarassing first round exit on Thursday (June 24) as they face Slovakia in a must-win match for the world champions.
    The Azzurri were confident of sailing through their group when they were dealt what many saw as a kind draw, but draws against Paraguay and lowly New Zealand have left them on the brink of a disastrous exit.
    Italy coach Marcello Lippi, who has been under fire by the Italian media for leaving behind creative players like Antonio Cassano and Guiseppe Rossi, says his side will not change their style of play for the clash at Johannesburg's Ellis Park stadium.
    "We expect them to play how they did in their last two matches, their characteristics. Slovakia have very good and very fast forwards. They attack and they alternate their positions quickly. They change that quickly, we've seen it in many matches, including these two. I don't think that they are going to change all that much tomorrow. They know they only have one result that they can use in order to stay on and they will try as hard as they can," he said.
    "We are not going to change that much, we are not going to change anything. We're just going to try and attack better than we have done so far. And now we'll try to do again what we've done thus far in our defence. Maybe we're going to pay attention to a couple of details, and also in midfield. And the attack has to improve, there is room for improvement there is no doubt," he added.
    Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro was the last man to lift the famous trophy when they beat the French in Germany four years ago. The defender is expected to retire from the international stage at the end of tournament.
    "As I said already I must have left some nice memories behind. My concern is not to play a good match at a personal level, I want to qualify with the whole team that's my idea. Because personally you can look at it whichever way you like. I am quite happy with how things are turning out now, but as I said earlier we still need a win, that's going to change everything," he said.
    "We need to win, as I said earlier we've been working hard for some time and a win boosts your morale and it pushes you to move forward and to work as hard as we have worked so far. This eve of the match? Well, I've seen worse. I've seen many that have been worse over the past few years. But I've seen the team play two good matches, we didn't get good results, but the team is alive and kicking. And nobody put us down and this is a good sign. Any of you been to Japan? That was much worse, I can assure you - far worse," Cannavaro added.
    Italy are likely to face the Netherlands in the last 16 should they qualify as Paraguay, who face New Zealand, are expected to top the group.
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