Wales stun Italy in Euro 2004 qualifiers

Giovanni Trapattoni said his Italy players were well beaten by high-flying Wales in their Euro 2004 qualifier on Wednesday but the Azzurri coach insisted he would fight on to save his job.

"We could not match Wales...we were not good enough -- as simple as that," Trapattoni told reporters after Italy's 2-1 defeat in the Group Nine match at the Millennium stadium.

"But it has never entered my mind to resign. I still have the support of the (Italian Football) Federation and that means a lot."

Fans and Italian media have called for Trapattoni to be sacked after a run of mixed results following their disappointing second round World Cup exit earlier this year.

Federation president Franco Carraro rang Trapattoni before the visit to Cardiff to reassure the 63-year-old of his future, but Italy's start to their European championship campaign -- one win, a draw and a defeat -- has left Trapattoni vulnerable.

They have four points from three qualifiers, although Federation vice-president Giancarlo Abete reiterated on Wednesday night that Trapattoni would be given the full qualifying campaign -- eight games in total -- in which to prove himself.

The mood of the Italian camp is in stark contrast to that of Wales, who have gone seven games unbeaten under Mark Hughes's management.

DEFINING MOMENT

They top the group with maximum points after goals from Simon Davies and Craig Bellamy sandwiched Alessandro Del Piero's equaliser for Italy in front of a raucous home crowd.

"It's a wonderful feeling, the players were absolutely superb and they should be very proud," Hughes said after the best win of his impressive three-year tenure.

"It's one of the best performance you will have seen here for many years...I thought we were capable of a performance like that against a side as good as Italy but we excelled ourselves.

"We imposed ourselves on the game, restricted them to a few chances, and broke on the counter attack very well.

"It's been a perfect start to the qualifying campaign and hopefully it will be a defining moment for Welsh football.

"But we cannot get carried away. The win tonight and over Finland (in Wales's first qualifier last month) will count for nothing if we don't go on and finish the job."

Wales, who were ranked below the world's top 100 nations until recently, are aiming to qualify for their first major championship finals since the 1958 World Cup.

Hughes will allow his players to celebrate for a short time. "They were delighted in the dressing room," he said.

"I imagine they will have a good time when they go back to their clubs on Thursday -- they'll all probably go in wearing their shirts," he joked.

Wales's next Euro 2004 qualifier is away to Azerbaijan in November, while Italy do not play until March 2003 when they host Finland.