Paolo Maldini and co face Ecuador (Allsport).
MALDINI: WE'RE NO FALL GUYS
Click here to place your World Cup bets!
Click here for Paraguay team section
Click here for teams index
Click here for latest World Cup headlines
Click here for World Cup photo gallery
Click here for World Cup Bettingzone
Italy captain Paolo Maldini is determined his side will not fall into the same
trap as champions France and be slain by giantkillers.
Les Bleus lost the opening game of the World Cup to Senegal on Friday night and
with Italy facing minnows Ecuador on Monday, Maldini has a warning for his
team-mates."To say 'we're Italy' and not even look at our adversaries is
superficial."
The 33-year-old defender, the most capped Azzurri of all time, added: "It's
right to adapt yourselves to your opponents, to not underestimate them, to get
to know them.
"It is not a dishonour to know the strong points of your opponents."
Ecuador are playing in their first World Cup final, just like Senegal, but
qualified second to Argentina and ahead of Brazil.
That record leaves midfielder Alex Aguinaga insisting they are not scared of
Italy, who are seeking to equal Brazil's record of four World Cups.
"Against Italy, Ecuador will play with no fear and no pressures," said the
Necaxa player, who was instrumental in beating Manchester United at the 1999
World Club Championship.
"We'll enjoy it, no matter the outcome. It will help us to feel out our
abilities."
Italy striker Christian Vieri, meanwhile, is ready to unleash some pent-up
frustration on World Cup defenders, starting with Ecuador in Sapporo. Vieri,,
once the world's most expensive player, saw his Inter Milan side lose the Serie
A title to Juventus on the final day of the season.
And since then, he has been waiting anxiously for the finals to kick off.
"We all want to play. We have been here in Japan for nearly two weeks and we
were together a week at Coverciano," said the 28-year-old.
"We all feel the need for the games. The time will pass better once we are
playing."
|
