Italy must beat Mexico to avoid exit

Updated: Wednesday June 12, 2002 07:50 a.m. ET

OITA, Japan (AP) -- The creek is rising around the throats of the Italians, and they have one chance to save themselves: beat Mexico on Thursday.

The three-time champions must win to be sure of a place in the next round of the World Cup. It's hardly an unusual situation for Italy.

The Italians have been near elimination before in the World Cup, and have a habit of dragging themselves through at the last minute.

"We Italians are used to being up against it," playmaker Francesco Totti said. "When the water is up to our necks, that's when we pull out our best."

Italy hasn't gone out of the World Cup in the first round since 1974, and it doesn't plan to repeat that humiliation.

In 1994, it came near a first-round exit, also playing its final group match against Mexico. Italy won that game 1-1, but managed to sneak through to the next round anyway, and eventually made the final, losing to Brazil.

The Italians are equating Thursday's game to an early final.

"This is a time that we should be calm and united," said midfielder Angelo Di Livio. "We can consider this match like a final -- the expectations are like that."

Italy makes the second round if it beats Mexico or if it ties with Mexico while Croatia either loses to Ecuador or ties and has a lower goal difference. If Italy and Croatia both lose, it will come down to goal difference between those two and Ecuador.

In short, Italy had better win if it doesn't want to put its World Cup future in the hands of other teams.

"If we fail, we're out," midfielder Gianluca Zambrotta said. "But we are alert, and very motivated to play Mexico."

Midfielder Luigi Di Biagio has been ruled out of the match with a calf injury and could miss the rest of the tournament. Defender Alessandro Nesta, who injured his foot in the Croatia match, walked off the pitch just 10 minutes into a practice kickabout Wednesday.

That could leave the Italians, who brought many attackers to Japan, but fewer midfielders and defenders than some thought wise, dangerously thin in those two areas.

Coach Giovanni Trapattoni may well go with three attackers: striker Christian Vieri, who has scored all three of Italy's goals, Filippo Inzaghi and, hanging behind them, Totti.

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre said he expects Trapattoni to play with an attacking lineup. Aguirre also marveled that his squad had the best record in the group, 2-0, but still wasn't sure of a spot in the next round.

"Strangely enough, we still have nothing," he said. "The truth is that we are fighting for our qualification against Italy."

The Mexicans believe they belong on Italy's level, and expect to prove it Thursday.

"There is no one here shaking in fear because of the big names or because of their famous blue jersey, defender Sigifredo Mercado said. "We know we can win."

Mexico goes through if it wins or ties. But if it loses, then it could be knocked out if Croatia beats Ecuador -- as it is expected to do -- and ends up with a better goal differential.

"Mexico will be playing just like us," Zambrotta said. "We both want to win as much as each other."