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| Zambrotta: Bring on Cyprus! |
Saturday 6 September, 2008 |
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Gianluca Zambrotta is eager to get the World Cup qualifiers started against Cyprus tonight. “We want to make up for Euro 2008.”
Italy went out of the tournament in Austria and Switzerland after a quarter-final penalty shoot-out with eventual winners Spain.
That result precipitated the dismissal of Roberto Donadoni and return of Marcello Lippi, who begins the 2010 campaign tonight.
“We are hungry,” assured 2006 World Cup winner Zambrotta. “Lippi asked us to take absolutely nothing for granted.
“We are going to Cyprus with our shirt sleeves rolled up. We want to make up for the bitterness of Euro 2008 by qualifying and trying to win another World Cup trophy.”
The Azzurri have earned five wins and a draw in their total meetings with Cyprus, scoring 17 goals and conceding just two.
Lippi is looking for his first victory of the new era, having drawn the debut friendly 2-2 with Austria last month.
Meanwhile, Zambrotta commented on his club football, having moved to Milan along with former Barcelona teammate Ronaldinho.
“I expected to see Ronaldinho in this kind of form, as he is a world class player who still makes the difference. It was very important to him to prove that.”
Despite a fine performance from the Brazilian, the Rossoneri lost 2-1 on home turf to newly promoted Bologna.
“The defeat to Bologna came at the end of a game well played in which we created so many scoring opportunities. It is not a total disaster.
“If we hadn't missed so many chances we wouldn't be here talking about the next match with Genoa as a crucial test.”
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Lippi: Take nothing for granted
Italy boss Marcello Lippi has warned his side not to underestimate Cyprus but demands a winning start to the World Cup 2010 qualification campaign. More
Ketsbaia tips Cyprus upset
After qualifying for the Champions League, Anorthosis Coach Temuri Kestbaia believes Cyprus can shock Italy this weekend. More
Zambro in England attack
Milan's Azzurri defender Gianluca Zambrotta has hit out at English football after recent criticism of Serie A in the nation's Press. More |
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