Georgia 0 Italy 2:ITALIAN FOOTBALL fans have long looked on national team coach Marcello Lippi as not only a supremely gifted coach but also as a distinctly "lucky" one.

Exactly one year ago, Italy opened their World Cup qualifying group with a 2-1 away win over Cyprus that was nothing if not fortuitous and in which the best Italian on the night was Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon.

Twelve months later, the story repeated itself last Saturday night in Tiblissi when an unimpressive Italy beat Georgia 2-0, thanks in large part to two painful own goals from Georgia’s most distinguished player, the AC Milan central defender Kakha Kaladze. It says much about the game that, once again, the best Italian on the night was goalkeeper Buffon.

Not that Buffon had much to do in a poor quality first half in which the enthusiastic young Georgians, long since eliminated from the race for South Africa but clearly much motivated by this clash with the reigning World Champions, huffed and puffed but created very little. To some extent, that was to be expected.

What came as a bitter surprise was the inept Italian showing. We had to wait until the 52nd minute of the match for the first Italian shot on goal. Italy might be fourth in the Fifa World rankings with Georgia 112th but for the first hour of Saturday night’s game, you would never have guessed.

In the end, good fortune came to the rescue in the shape of the hapless Kaladze. The Georgian captain had not played a competitive game for seven months, since losing the Milan derby last February, and his ring-rustiness was to cost Georgia dear.

Seconds after Buffon had made a remarkable point blank save from Georgian striker Vladimer Dvalishvili, Sampdoria midfielder Angelo Palombo tried a speculative long range shot in the 56th minute. His effort appeared to be on the way out but, in a futile attempt to be ultra-safe, Kaladze in trying to head the shot away for a corner managed only to turn it into his own net. This was a goal that would have looked embarrassing in a Sunday morning kick-around, let alone in a World Cup qualifier.

Worse was to come. Incredibly, Kaladze staged an “encore” 11 minutes later, once more completely wrong footing his goalkeeper Giorgi Lomaia when attempting to deal with a cross from Genoa left back, “Mimmo” Criscito. Italians have never been ones to go in for advanced dentistry when it comes to “gift horses” and so it was on Saturday night with Kaladze effectively winding up the business, there and then. Trailing two goals and with their morale utterly deflated, Georgia faded from the game leaving Italy to freewheel home, even if the Italian handbrake seemed to be stuck in the “on” position.

Speaking after the game, coach Lippi struck a positive note, arguing that Georgia’s two own goals were the product of Italian pressure, saying: “In life, you always need luck. Now let’s save our energy and concentrate on winning (against Bulgaria) on Wednesday. And let no one say that we have the qualification already wrapped up because it’s only if we beat Bulgaria that we can then head to Ireland with a four-point advantage”.

Not for nothing, three players who did not play against Georgia featured prominently in much post-match analysis yesterday. Firstly, against Bulgaria Italy welcome back influential AS Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi, suspended against Georgia.

Secondly, two old chestnuts in the shape of Sampdoria striker Antonio Cassano and Juve’s Brazilian striker Amauri were on the minds of many again. Turin daily La Stampa was just one of many to ask if there really was no room in this side for “enfant terrible” Cassano, arguably the most talented Italian striker of the moment.

Furthermore, given the sterile look to the Italian attack which has now gone four games without itself scoring, many commentators hope that the bureaucratic formalities of the naturalization of Amauri can be accelerated in order for Italy to have a badly needed new weapon in its armoury for South Africa next year.

GEORGIA:Lomaia; Lobjanidze, Khtsanishvili, Kaladze, Sanaia; Ananidze, Razmadze, Khmaladze, Kobiashvili, Kenia; Dvalishvili. Subs: Vatsadze for Ananidze (59 mins), Tskitishvili for Razmadze (73 mins).

ITALY:Buffon; Zambrotta, Chiellini, Cannavaro, Criscito; Marchionni, Palombo, Pirlo, Camoranesi; Rossi, Iaquinta. Subs: D'Agostino for Marchionni (57 mins), Quagliarella for Rossi (57 mins), Santon for Camoranesi (72 mins).

Referee:M Borski (Poland)