World champions Italy return to competitive action on Saturday in what should be a straightforward opener against Lithuania in their qualifying quest for Euro 2008 glory. However, the euphoria that followed July's World Cup victory in Germany could evaporate in the space of four days if the Azzurri do not get off on the right foot in Group B.
Italy have been drawn in a 'group of death', which includes World Cup runners-up France, quarter-finalists Ukraine and a rejuvinated Scotland. With next Wednesday's encounter in Paris set to provide many French players with an opportunity for revenge, it is important Italy start with a win against their unheralded opponents.
Much has changed in the seven weeks since Italy won the World Cup. Most notably, coach Marcello Lippi has resigned to be replaced by Roberto Donadoni, and the new boss has shown that he will not select players based on reputation after omitting several World Cup stars, including Francesco Totti, Luca Toni and Alessandro Del Piero.
The fixture is set to be something of an emotive homecoming for Naples-born Fabio Cannavaro, whose career started at the Stadio San Paolo as a ballboy, but has led to the 32-year-old going on to captain his nation to World Cup glory. "We all want to start this new adventure well," he said. "We need to start by beating Lithuania and then we can move on to Paris. Playing at the San Paolo will be emotional for me. When I was 10 I was a ballboy there, and now I am going back as a world champion."
These are all Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifiers. All kick-offs are in UK time.
Group A:
Serbia 1 - 0 Azerbaijan (1915)
Poland 1 - 3 Finland (1930)
Group B:
Scotland 6 - 0 Faroe Islands (1500)
Georgia 0 - 3 France (1700)
Italy 1 - 1 Lithuania (1950)
Group C:
Malta 2 - 5 Bosnia-Herzegovina (1815)
Hungary 1 - 4 Norway (1900)
Moldova 0 - 1 Greece (1915)
Group D:
Czech Republic 1 - 2 Wales (1915)
Slovakia 6 - 1 Cyprus (1915)
Germany 1 - 0 Republic of Ireland (1945)
Group E:
England 5 - 0 Andorra (1700)
Estonia 0 - 1 Israel (1930)
Group F:
Northern Ireland 0 - 3 Iceland (1500)
Latvia 0 - 1 Sweden (1900)
Spain 4 - 0 Liechtenstein (2100)
Group G:
Belarus 2 - 2 Albania (1800)
Luxembourg 0 - 1 Netherlands (1930)
Romania 2 - 2 Bulgaria (1900)
Iceland U21 0-1 Italy U21: Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Montolivo lived up to his billing as the star attraction in the Azzurrini squad by scoring the only goal as they won 1-0 in Iceland. The 21-year-old's decisive strike came in the 56th minute, although the perennial finalists were unable to relax as Iceland fought to keep alive their hopes of qualifying from Group 5 after drawing their opening game 0-0 in Austria. Pierluigi Casiraghi had said before his first game in charge that Italy "could not afford to underestimate Iceland" and he will no doubt repeat those words before Tuesday’s visit of Austria, despite needing just a point in Forli to earn a place in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-offs.
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