Zoff promises Italy will attack

New coach will not employ defensive style

Click here for more on this story

Posted: Monday August 31, 1998 04:19 PM

Zoff has already made the changes for Italy's European championship qualifier against Wales Stu Forster/Allsport

FLORENCE, Italy (Reuters) -- New Italy coach Dino Zoff vowed on Monday to scrap the defensive ways of predecessor Cesare Maldini and switch to attacking soccer.

"We're going to try and play the game openly and if we end up not attacking, it will only be because our opponents have prevented us from doing so," he said after training the national squad for the first time.

"You can't always have control of the game the way you'd like to, but we're going try our best to impose our own style of play -- and even on Saturday we will play without any special worries even though it will be a tough game."

Zoff has already rung the changes in his squad for the European championship qualifier against Wales.

"I haven't definitively closed the doors to anyone, but I wanted to see some new faces and how they perform, especially at midfield and in defense," he said.

But Italy's World Cup-winning goalkeeper of 1982 said he would not be afraid to replace under-performing young with in-form old during Italy's European campaign.

Asked whether he would follow Maldini in preferring Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero to Inter Milan veteran Roberto Baggio, Zoff replied: "I have no hierarchy among the players. I'm only looking for those who can guarantee top play."

He said he was considering an eventual three-pronged attack with Del Piero and Lazio's Christian Vieri backed up by Baggio.

Related information
Stories
Hoddle: Owen is England's top striker Former star player Rijkaard named Dutch national coach
Multimedia
Click here for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call 1-888-53-CNNSI.

Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.