DEFENCE will be Italy's prime concern when they meet England in the crucial World Cup qualifier at Wembley a week today. That much was underlined by the squad that Cesare Maldini, the 65-year-old coach who has taken over from Arrigo Sacchi, announced yesterday.

Maldini, who reverted to a sweeper system when Italy began his reign with a 2-0 victory over Northern Ireland in a friendly in Palermo a fortnight ago, has added two defenders, Antonio Benarrivo and Christian Panucci, to his squad along with an extra striker, Enrico Chiesa. Stefano Eranio, who came on for the last 10 minutes against the Irish, is missing this time.

The presence of Benarrivo, the experienced Parma right back, and Panucci, who is happy playing on either side of the defence, confirms the suspicion that it is the strength and pace of Glenn Hoddle's wing-backs, probably David Beckham and Graeme Le Saux, which will influence Italian thinking.