Italy to open World Cup campaign against Cyprus

Italy will begin their 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign away to minnows Cyprus in Nicosia on 6 September.

A delegation led by the FIGC President Giancarlo Abete and coach Roberto Donadoni met with the representatives of the Azzurri's Group 8 opponents in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia today to thrash out a favourable schedule.

The World champions then host Georgia on 10 September before travelling to Sofia to face undoubtedly their toughest opponents Bulgaria on 11 October. The year ends with a home match against Montenegro four days later.

Donadoni's side conclude their qualifying campaign at home to the Cypriots on 14 October 2009, four days after playing the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.

The new year, which will see Italy participate in the FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa, will open with a potentially tough double header with an away trip to Montenegro and a home tie against Ireland in March and April 2009.

September 2009 sees the Azzurri travel to Georgia before hosting Bulagaria.

Full Azzurri Calendar
06-09-2008: Cyprus v Italy
10-09-2008: Italy v Georgia

11-10-2008: Bulgaria v Italy
15-10-2008: Italy v Montenegro

28-03-2009: Montenegro v Italy
01-04-2009: Italy v Republic of Ireland

05-09-2009: Georgia v Italy
09-09-2009: Italy v Bulgaria

10-10-2009: Republic of Ireland v Italy
14-10-2009: Italy v Cyprus

[Beijing 2008] Casiraghi eyes Olympic dream team

Italy Under-21 boss Pierluigi Casiraghi has surprisingly revealed that he wants some veteran stars to join his squad for the Olympic Games.

Casiraghi will be called upon to name 18 players for a Under-23 squad to travel to Beijing and only 15 of these must have been born after January 1, 1985.

This requirement allows the Monza-born coach to call three overage players and he has set his sights high.

"It depends on Roberto Donadoni’s selections for Euro 2008 and obviously the priority goes to the younger players such as Alberto Aquilani and Giorgio Chiellini.

"But that doesn’t mean that I’m excluding some heroes like Pippo Inzaghi and Alessandro Del Piero. I’d also like Gigi Buffon and Luca Toni."

The football tournament will take place in China between August 6 and 23 and many of Casiraghi’s decisions could be dictated by the decisions of players and clubs.

Italy qualified by winning the Olympic play-off match against Portugal in last year's UEFA Under-21's European Championships in the Netherlands and will find out their group opponents when the draw is made on 20 April.

The Azzurrini took the bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens after a 1-0 win over Iraq in the third-placed final.

Source: C4 Football Italia