ARRIGO SACCHI has signed a new contract to December 1998 to take Italy to the 1998 World Cup finals in France, assuming they perform well under his guidance at the European Championship finals this summer.
He will be paid 1.7 trillion lira (around £641,000) a year, the amount he is currently paid.
Italian Football Federation sources said there was no clause in the contract for Sacchi, who could undoubtedly have earned more at club level in Italy, to leave if Italy performed badly in the European Championship. "The Italian fans are the clause," one source said. "They'll give him a kick in the backside if the team does badly."
Italy's squad for the European Championship is expected to be announced on May 13th, the day after the league season ends, with the players gathering on May 18th. If Juventus reach the European Cup final, their players will join the squad after the match on May 22nd.
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