- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Italy train for Confederations Cup
- Date: 10th June 2009
- Summary: ATTRIDGEVILLE, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 09, 2009) (REUTERS) POLICE WATCHING VARIOUS OF ITALIAN TEAM ARRIVING AT STADIUM MORE OF POLICE WATCHING VARIOUS OF PLAYERS JOGGING VARIOUS OF PLAYERS EXERCISING (3 SHOTS) COACH MARCELO LIPPI GIVING INSTRUCTIONS MORE OF PLAYERS AT TRAINING MORE OF LIPPI WITH COACHES PLAYERS JOGGING SOUTH AFRICAN SPECTATORS WATCHING
- Embargoed: 25th June 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA32NLBE4TB80L9059BYUOEBBI4
- Story Text: The Italian national soccer team started training for the upcoming FIFA Confederations Cup in one of South Africa's black township of Attridgeville outside Pretoria on Tuesday (June 9).
The team arrived on Monday, a week before the first match in the tournament which will be between the hosts South Africa and Iraq.
Addressing reporters in Pretoria on Monday, coach Marcello Lippi said he had never been in South Africa before but had heard a lot of positive things about the country, including that it was beautiful.
He said he had had a good experience at the OR Tambo International Airport and that the hospitality at their hotel had been superb.
He also said the training facilities are world class following their first training session in the afternoon.
The Azzurri, the nickname for the Italian national team, had their first training session on Monday at Southdowns College in Pretoria, ahead of Group B matches against USA, Brazil and Egypt next week.
The World Champions will play their first Group B match against USA on 15 June at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, and face African Champions Egypt on 18 June in Coca Cola Park, Johannesburg - before locking horns with holders Brazil in Loftus Stadium on 21 June.
Lippi said during the Festival of Champions he would try to mix a few youngsters with the experienced footballers to blend a team for the World Cup in South Africa next year. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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