Sport

Italy only have wins on their minds

Bulgaria v Italy: If you believe in the theory Italy give of their best when their backs are to the wall, then Bulgaria are …

Paddy Agnew
Tue Jun 22 2004 - 01:00

Bulgaria v Italy: If you believe in the theory Italy give of their best when their backs are to the wall, then Bulgaria are in for a drubbing tonight.

All is not well in the Italy camp. Striker Christian Vieri has questioned the masculinity of the Italian press corps, suspended icon Francesco Totti is threatening to sue five Italian dailies and two internet sites, whilst goalkeeper Gigi Buffon has accused the Italian press of "doing everything possible to stop us winning".

Italy know even a win against Bulgaria may not guarantee a place in the quarter-finals. Italy need to beat Bulgaria and hope either Denmark or Sweden win. If the Danes and Swedes draw whilst Italy win, then all three teams will finish the group on five points. At that point, however, goal difference in the matches between the three tied teams comes into play. A 2-2 or higher scoring draw between Denmark and Sweden will send the Italians packing. Such a possibility has exercised Italian minds with half of Italy ready to point to a Scandinavian "fix" in the event of the 2-2 or higher scoring draw.

Italy will be without two of their most in-form players, central defender Fabio Cannavaro and midfielder Gennaro Gattuso, both suspended. Inter defender Marco Materazzi and Lazio midfielder Stefano Fiore are likely to step in for them whilst Lazio striker Bernardo Corradi is ready to replace Vieri, allegedly suffering from a left knee problem.

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Bulgaria are without captain Stilian Petrov and defender Rosen Kirilov, both suspended, whilst left back Ivailo Petkov is injured. AEK Athens midfielder Milen Petkov replaces Celtic's Petrov, Predrag Pazin returns in place of Kirilov and Zlatomir Zagoric steps in for left back Petkov.

Bulgarian coach Plamen Markov, in perhaps his last game as national team boss, may also introduce talented Lecce striker Valeri Bojinov. For all that, though, Italy to win and then hope for a helpful result in Porto.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

ITALY (4-3-3): Buffon; Panucci, Nesta, Materazzi, Zambrotta; Fiore, Perrotta: C Cassano, Pirlo, Del Piero; Vieri (Corradi).

BULGARIA (4-4-2): Zdrankov; Ivanov, Pazin, Stoyanov, Zagoric; Peev, M Petkov, Hrsitov, M Petrov; Bojinov, Berbatov.

Referee: Valentin Ivanov (Russia)