Italy striker Luca Toni will not even consider the possibility of defeat in Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifier with Scotland.
Toni, a member of the World Cup-winning side in Germany in 2006, expects the Azzurri to clinch their passage to next summer's finals in Glasgow.
"I want to play at Euro 2008," said Toni. "Frankly, I don't even consider in my mind the possibility that Italy will not be there."
The Bayern Munich frontman knows the task that awaits them in Glasgow.
The last time the two teams met on Scottish soil, the Azzurri were made to struggle and only a late equaliser by substitute Fabio Grosso secured Italy a 1-1 draw in their World Cup qualifier back in 2005 at the same ground.
"I remember that game," said Toni. "We know what atmosphere to expect. It will be a packed stadium, the home fans will be supporting their team for the entire game. But this atmosphere will only motivate us to do well.
"We know what we need to do."
Toni believes Italy will have to show their World Cup-winning credentials against Alex McLeish's side to come out triumphant.
"We know what our responsibilities are as world champions," said Toni. "We have to prove our worth on the pitch. All the teams that play against us give everything. We know what is at stake.
"But Saturday's encounter is a great game that any player would want to play (in), and we can't wait to go out on the pitch."
Saturday's game will be the most important for coach Roberto Donadoni since taking over the national team shortly after the Azzurri's World Cup triumph. A defeat would almost certainly bring to an end his spell as national coach.
"I think Donadoni has done a great job," admitted Toni. "It wasn't easy for him to replace coach Marcello Lippi, who won the World Cup.
"We struggled at the beginning of our qualifying campaign but we bounced back."
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
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