Italy v Scotland: So uninterested have Italians been in this evening's match Marcello Lippi's announcement that he would select a trio of strikers to prise open the visitors could be construed as a desperate attempt to drum up enthusiasm. If it was, he is likely to be disappointed.
The 85,000-capacity San Siro is likely to be only half-full at best, with up to a third of those present kilted and hollering for the underdogs. A combination of the Easter weekend and the anticipation of a routine and far from swashbuckling victory over sub-standard opponents has left ticket sales becalmed, with little to emerge from the Azzurri's qualification campaign to date - even the prospect of seeing Francesco Totti, Antonio Cassano and Alberto Gilardino as an attacking trident - setting pulses racing among home supporters.
Top of a mediocre group they may be but Italy are a team in transition. Their defeat by Slovenia earlier this campaign was their first defeat in a World Cup qualifier for 11 years and a youthful side has edged out Moldova, Norway and Belarus only by the odd goal.
"Day by day this is a squad growing towards greatness," Lippi insisted yesterday. "The players believe in what they are doing and we are improving all the time."
Within his squad there appears to be a belief that they need not improve a great deal to defeat the Scots. The captain Fabio Cannavaro was eager to stress this week that "Scotland do not scare us". Gilardino, the Parma striker, claimed it would be "easy" for Italy. "I do not expect Scotland to spring any shocks," he said.
Yet there are deep-lying concerns that the inconsistencies that have blighted Lippi's reign could rear again.
Only Russia, in a friendly last month, have been beaten by a two-goal margin and, despite the clean sheet in that 2-0 win, their defence has been occasionally jittery. "Don't forget they've changed their coach, and the players will want to prove their qualities," said Cannavaro.
"They'll be motivated for the game and anxious to climb up the group table, but I'd still expect us to win."
Head to head: P6 Ita W 4, Sco W 1, D 1. Last three meetings: Dec 22nd, 1988 - Italy 2-0 Scotland (friendly), Nov 18th, 1992 - Scotland 0-0 Italy (WCQ), Oct 13th, 1993 - Italy 3-1 Scotland (WCQ)
Referee: Kyros Vassaras (Greece).
Guardian Service
