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Q & A: Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni
Posted: Tuesday April 23, 2002 4:43 PM
What
do you think of the draw?
I'm cautiously satisfied with our draw. Remember, we might have
got in a group with sides like England, Portugal and Denmark. The
first game will be the riskiest for us because, inevitably, all
the pressure will be on us. Remember, too, that Ecuador are bound
to be fired up with the enthusiasm of being World Cup debutants.
Croatia have always been awkward customers for Italy. There are
plenty of Croat players who have played in Italy, like Boksic, Stanic,
Jarni, Vugrinec, who know us well and they'll want to do well against
us. Mexico are a side with lots of experience. I would hope that
by the time we play them, the match has not become decisive for
us getting into the second round.
Who
are your key players?
Obviously, Totti has developed and grown a lot since Euro 2000,
where he already showed himself to be pretty useful. But players
like Inzaghi and Del Piero were useful for us. Del Piero, after
all, scored the winning goal from a free-kick in our final qualifier,
against Hungary. I haven't got a crystal ball but Vieri has shown
this year that he is playing well. But, in the end, it is our defence
that, as always, is the most important and solid part of this Italy.
Who
will win the World Cup?
France, England, Brazil, Argentina, Italy -- I think that the winner
is to be found in this group. They are the strongest teams, best
prepared, with the best players, the sides of tradition.
Who
will be the surprises?
I don't see any surprises on the horizon but I am curious, however,
to see how the local sides get on, Japan and South Korea, or even
China. They could all do well given the enthusiasm they will generate.
I also believe that the Africans, who after all are used to hot
and heavy climates, could certainly have an advantage in Korea and
Japan. I think that at least one of the African finalists will rise
far above the form shown in the African Nations Cup in Mali.
Will
the conditions affect you?
I hope not. We've studied the climate closely. The problem
is not so much the second or the third game; no, it is when you
go to play the fourth or fifth match that energy becomes a problem.
Sides that can use their technique to save energy will be at an
advantage. The better your technique, the more energy you save,
and that counts over the arc of seven games.
Will
the failure of Italian clubs in the Champions League this season
prove to be an advantage or a disadvantage?
There's no doubt that the elimination of Juventus and Roma gives
the international players a chance to rest and recoup energy that
they would otherwise have used up in Champions League games. Maybe
it will give them an extra motivation, too, when it comes to the
World Cup.
Are
you worried Italian football may be in serious decline?
I'm not worried. When it comes to the crunch, our football has always
come through. My Italy are a very competitive side.
Is
this the toughest job you have done in your long and successful
career?
Yes, because when you are working with a club you can plan things,
mould the team together; but here you have a month to do it and,
for me, as for the coach of England, Brazil or France, all that
matters is winning. And that's the biggest difficulty, because only
one team wins the World Cup in the end.
What
if you don't win the tournament?
It's not in my nature to start thinking about the future, about
what I'll do next. I've always thought of the future as a great
opportunity. If you're frightened, you'll never know it; if you're
weak, you'll never get there. But if you have hope, it will be another
great chance for you.
From World Soccer magazine.
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