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Judgement looms Decision on Trapattoni's future could come soonPosted: Tuesday October 22, 2002 12:12 PMROME (AP) -- Italian soccer federation president Franco Carraro said in an interview published Tuesday that a decision on the status of national team coach Giovanni Trapattoni must be made by the first week of November. "We're in a delicate moment," Carraro was quoted as saying in Tuesday's Gazzetta dello Sport. "And we're obliged to make a thorough examination." While Italy's shocking overtime loss to South Korea in the World Cup was largely blamed on poor officiating, calls for the 63-year-old Trapattoni's ouster have heightened since the "Azzurri" put forth yet another sub-par performance in a 2-1 loss last week at Wales in Euro 2004 qualifying. The loss in Cardiff was preceded by a sluggish 1-1 draw with Yugoslavia a few days earlier and a less-than inspiring win at Azerbaijan last month. "By the first week of November we have to make a decision," Carraro was quoted as saying in the Gazzetta. Antonello Valentini, the federation's chief spokesman, confirmed the report. As for who might replace the man locals refer to as the "Trap," the Gazzetta reported that former national team player Gianluca Vialli was now the top candidate. The 38-year-old Vialli, who played for Sampdoria and Juventus, most recently coached English clubs Chelsea and Watford. Previously, former national coach Dino Zoff, who resigned and was replaced by Trapattoni after Italy was beaten by France in the final of Euro 2000, had been tapped as the top candidate.
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