In at the deep end today for Italy, the eternal slow burners of the World Cup. The azzurri have failed to win a World Cup opening game since 1978 and the challenge offered by a Chilean team with both muscle and punch might extend that sequence. The game offers the likelihood of some meaningful action too. The runners-up in Group B are likely to meet Brazil in the second round, a consummation devoutly to be avoided.
A plague has befallen the Italian striking contingent and del Piero (injured) and Ravanelli (sick and departed) will be missing giving Baggio and Vieri their first competitive outing as a striking partnership. How they cope with the muscular Javier Margas at the back is open to question. Vieri and Margas will clash like cymbals all afternoon but Italy will need a little more from a cautious and rather plodding midfield.
Chile, with their chequered history in this competition, are looking for their first win at this level since 1962 when they reached the quarter-finals. They endured a minor scare last week when Ivan Zamorano, their Inter Milan striker, injured a knee in training.
He is expected to start, however, renewing his partnership with Salas - a combination which scored six goals in five friendlies on the run in to France. They scored 23 goals between them in qualifying and could be the springboard for a surprise today. Italy will hope that Chile prove to be lopsided: brilliant in attack but limited elsewhere and for reasons of tradition, if nothing else, Italy as World Cup winners three times have to be among the favourites. There is also the little matter of £127,000 a man should they win the tournament outright. Chile, in contrast, are just glad to be in the finals for the first time since 1982, when they were eliminated by three first-round defeats to West Germany, Austria and Algeria.
Italy (probable): Pagliuca; Costacurta; Maldini, Nesta, Cannavaro, Moriero; Albertini, D Baggio, Di Matteo; R Baggio, Vieri.
Chile (probable): Tapia; Fuentes; Villarroel, Margas, Reyes, Rojas; Acuna, Parraguez, Estay; Zamorano, Salas.
Referee: Lucien Bouchardeou (Niger)
Key Player Roberto Baggio (Italy)
Age: 31. Club: Bologna (Italy) Caps: 46. GOALS: 26 Strengths: Baggio is at his most dangerous when the ball comes towards him and he has his back to goal. His patented move sees him give the ball a wee nudge with the outside of his foot while he spins, moving the defender behind him aside with his arms as he turns.
Weaknesses: Needs to play alongside the sort of beef which Vieri represents today. Vieri has the build of a heavyweight boxer and Baggio will feed off him all afternoon. If Vieri sinks though, Baggio goes down with him.
Quite a resurrection for the man once known as the `Divine Ponytail'. His season with Bologna had the media howling for his inclusion ("Maldini, can you leave Baggio at home now," screamed Gazetto dello Sport after one particular match) and circumstance guarantees him a starting place today, a sweet irony for him given that it was del Piero who replaced him at Juventus and Italy.
Although only Paolo Rossi has scored more goals in World Cup finals, Baggio hasn't started a game for Italy since November of 1994. However, 22 goals for Bologna have rejuvenated him and he is set to link-up with Ronaldo at Inter Milan next year as his star continues to rise.
