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Italy can reach World Cup final, says captain Cannavaro [Thu Sep 1st, 2005]
Rome (Reuters) - As Italy prepare to face Scotland in a World Cup qualifier in Glasgow, captain Fabio Cannavaro is predicting the Azzurri can go all the way at next year's finals in Germany.
"We are capable of reaching the World Cup final," Cannavaro was quoted as saying in La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"After South Korea and Portugal another flop is unthinkable," he said in reference to the last two major tournaments, the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004.
"The more so because, for many of us, next year's competition will be the last chance to achieve something big in the national side."
Italy, who also meet Belarus in Minsk in another qualifier next Wednesday, lead European Group Five with 13 points from six matches, four points ahead of second-placed Norway.
If they get through to Germany as expected, though, Italy will not be taking anything for granted after failing to reach the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals or get beyond the group stage at Euro 2004 in Portugal.
Performances have improved since Marcello Lippi took over from Giovanni Trapattoni as coach in July 2004, but despite a comfortable 2-1 win over Ireland in a friendly in August, Italy's stock has sunk to a relative low.
Italy are 13th in the FIFA world rankings, seven places below the US, a rating Cannavaro said did not do his side justice.
"We are behind the United States? I just don't understand the rankings system," he said.
"Have they ever won the World Cup? In my opinion, Italy has always been a top 10 side.
"Just before (Euro 2000) they were saying we were right down in 20th position, then we went all the way to the final. Maybe it is better that way. Without pressure this side can go a long way."
Italy will expect to make light work of Scotland.
Striker Francesco Totti has recovered from a bout of flu that kept him out of the Ireland match.
The AS Roma striker is expected to act as playmaker behind a strike pairing of Christian Vieri and Alberto Gilardino.
The only notable absentee is first-choice goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. The Juventus player injured his shoulder during the Italian Supercup final last month and is expected to be replaced by Lazio's Angelo Peruzzi.
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