Italy chief backs under-fire Trapattoni
Stephen Wood
Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni has received a huge vote of confidence from the national soccer federation chief before Wednesday's Euro 2004 qualifier with Wales.
Trapattoni is under pressure following Italy's second-round exit from this year's World Cup and an uncertain start to their European championship qualifying campaign.
Critics have called for him to resign, but the 63-year-old coach took a telephone call from Italian Football Federation president Franco Carraro which appears to have secured his immediate future.
"The president called Mr Trapattoni and (captain) Fabio Cannavaro to wish them luck and tell them there was no problem with Mr Trapattoni's future," Federation vice-president Giancarlo Abete told reporters on Tuesday.
"We are confident for the future. The Wales match is not the ultimate match. It is not like a World Cup, where one defeat means elimination.
"There are eight games (in the qualifying group) and the (Wales) match is the third of them."
Abete added that Trapattoni's role should be judged at the end of the eight qualifying games, the last of which is at home to Azerbaijan in October next year.
Asked if he was worried that Wednesday's game at a sell-out 71,000 Millennium Stadium in Cardiff could be his last in charge, Trapattoni said: "No, I am sure not.
"I want to talk abut my players and the importance of this game, but I can say I have an excellent relationship -- and the trust -- of the team and the people close to me. And that is starting from the very top."
Italy's early exit form the World Cup led to immediate calls for Trapattoni's head.
RENEWED SPECULATION
Although they beat Azerbaijan in their first Euro 2004 qualifier, a 1-1 draw at home to Yugoslavia on Saturday renewed the speculation about Trapattoni's position, with Italian media claiming former coach Dino Zoff was set to make a return.
They head qualifying Group Nine by one point from Wales, who have played a game fewer.
Trapattoni's task in Cardiff has been made harder by the withdrawal from the squad of injury victims Francesco Totti, Christian Vieri and Filippo Inzaghi.
Abete denied that Totti's absence was down to personal differences with Trapattoni.
With Totti, Vieri and Inzaghi out, Vincenzo Montella is set to partner Alessandro Del Piero in attack, with Luigi Di Biagio returning in midfield in place of the injured Cristiano Doni.
Trapattoni said he might pick defender Daniele Adani, who is struggling to earn a regular place at Inter Milan, to help snuff out the threat of Wales winger Ryan Giggs.
But Trapattoni insisted that Manchester United's Giggs was not Wales's only dangerman. "Giggs is their most famous player but Simon Davies and Craig Bellamy are also excellent, and John Hartson is very important for them," said Trapattoni.
"(Wales coach) Mark Hughes has prepared them in a very good manner and they are now a team high on confidence. It will be a tough game but we will go for the win."
Heavy rain in Cardiff meant Italy trained under the closed roof of the Millennium Stadium on Tuesday night, but Trapattoni said he did not mind whether the roof was closed or opened for the match itself.
