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World Cup: Italy aims to win, rather than entertain

In this combination of pictures Italy midfielder Francesco Totti, left, prepares to kick the ball during the match against the Czech Republic in Hamburg last Thursday and Australia forward Harry Kewell, right, prepares to kick the ball during a match with Uruguay in Sydney on Nov. 16 last year. PHOTO: AFP

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Italy v Australia

Italy couldn't care less if they don't entertain like the Azzurri teams of old as long as they end up holding aloft the World Cup.

Italy were once regarded as one of the most exciting sides in the world with players like Gigi Riva, Gianni Rivera, Sandro Mazzola and Roberto Baggio etching their names in the pantheon of football greats.

And in the build-up to this tournament, the Italians displayed an exciting brand of attacking play which swept aside World Cup hosts Germany and Holland in friendly matches.

But since arriving in Germany, they have reverted to a more defensive style, not catenaccio but less easy on the eye, a move which has brought scathing criticism from the Italian media for whom entertainment is a requirement of the national side.

Italy midfielder Simone Perrotta insisted the team were unfazed by the negative press reaction to their first round performances, which produced solid but unspectacular wins against Ghana and the Czech Republic and a draw with the United States.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi, left, talks to forward Vincenzo Iaquinta during a training session in Duisbourg last Friday. PHOTO: AFP

"I really don't care how we play, the only important thing is to win," he said ahead of today's crunch second round match against Australia in Kaiserslautern.

"Everything else counts for little. The most talented team of all time was [Johan Cruyff's] Holland and they never won anything. They may be remembered for the way they played, but they ended up with nothing," he said.

Perrotta jumped to the defense of out-of-sorts striker and Roma team-mate Francesco Totti, who has only recently returned to action after breaking his ankle and looks off the pace.

The ``Socceroos'' (Australia) jog in a tight pack to warm up for their training session in Ohringen last Friday. PHOTO: AFP

"He's definitely not 100 percent, but players like Francesco, with the quality he has even if he's at 70 or 80 percent, is a player who can make the difference in any moment of a match," Perrotta said.

Asked if Totti was a luxury to have in the team at the moment, Perrotta replied: "Absolutely not."

Perrotta made the surprise admission that he would have been happy to face tournament favorites Brazil in the last 16 rather than Australia.

"I really don't care how we play, the only important thing is to win. Everything else counts for little."

Simone Perrotta, Italy midfielder

"Australia may seem like the easier draw, but the game against the US proved that matches which seem easy on paper are often the most difficult ones," he said.

"Paradoxically it might have been easier to face Brazil rather than Australia. Personally I would have preferred to have met Brazil, not because Australia are stronger, but because it would have been wonderful to play against them." Perrotta said.

"It would have been a fascinating match and if you feel that you have the quality to win the World Cup, you have to beat every team," he said.

Perrotta used to be a fringe player for Italy but he has now become a key figure, starting all three of their group matches in his unfamiliar role on the right-hand side of midfield rather than in the center.

"I used to think that it would always be [me] who would be sacrificed when the team was announced, but now I think differently," he said.

"I've had a good season and I've started every match here. I used to think that my role was only in central midfield, but now I've been given this new position which I really enjoy. I'm playing well, but there's always room for improvement," he said.
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