Maldini - proud of Italy's defence (Allsport)
MALDINI BACKS AZZURRI DEFENSIVE POWER
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Italian captain Paolo Maldini believes his side
have the best defence of the World Cup.
Maldini is expected to play alongside Alessandro Nesta and Fabio Cannavaro in
a formidable trio, and few would argue that it is not the most effective in the
world.
"If you see other favourite teams, their weakness lies in the defence, but
for Italy the defence is a certainty, we have to be proud of this," the AC
Milan captain Paolo Maldini said on the club's official website,
www.acmilan.it.
This will be the fourth World Cup finals tournament for the 33-year-old
defender, but he has suffered penalty heart-break each time.
He came closest to victory in 1994 when the Azzurri lost the final to Brazil
on penalties, while the dreaded shoot-out put paid to Italian hopes in the 1990
semi-finals against Argentina and the 1998 quarter-finals against France.
Now, however, he believes the Italian squad's defensive solidity is matched by
creativity and a cutting edge capable of slicing open any opposition.
"We have all the right cards to have a great World Cup," he said.
Italy's first World Cup match is against Ecuador
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