Casiraghi: I hope we'll avoid Brazil in quarter-final
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The Azzurrini head coach Pierluigi Casiraghi claimed his side must win against Cameroon to avoid a clash with Brazil in quarterfinals of the Beijing Olympic men's football tournament. He said: "I hope we'll be first in the group and avoid a clash with Brazil. I think they also want to avoid Italy in the quarterfinals."
Italy having booked one spot in the knockout stage following their 3-0 victories over both Honduras and South Korea, but are not yet secure of top spot in group D. That is because Cameroon beat Honduras 1-0, so the African side could still snap the top of the group if they beat Italy.
While all eyes fixate on favorites Brazil and Argentina with their superstars like Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho, Gli Azzurri has shown the world it cannot be ignored, scoring as many goals, 6, as Brazil in two wins. However, Casiraghi played down Italy's status as an Olympic favorite.
Casiraghi has some injury concerns as Tommaso Rocchi has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament with calf injury. Italy's only overage player in Beijing picked up the injury after a clash with defender Andrea Ranocchia in training. He seemed to have dismissed the problem as he scored in the match against South Korea, but tests today showed that the problem is more serious than suspected.
Italy hopes to improve on their third place finish in the 2004 Olympics in which they won the bronze medal game with a 1-0 win over Iraq.
Italy having booked one spot in the knockout stage following their 3-0 victories over both Honduras and South Korea, but are not yet secure of top spot in group D. That is because Cameroon beat Honduras 1-0, so the African side could still snap the top of the group if they beat Italy.
While all eyes fixate on favorites Brazil and Argentina with their superstars like Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho, Gli Azzurri has shown the world it cannot be ignored, scoring as many goals, 6, as Brazil in two wins. However, Casiraghi played down Italy's status as an Olympic favorite.
Casiraghi has some injury concerns as Tommaso Rocchi has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament with calf injury. Italy's only overage player in Beijing picked up the injury after a clash with defender Andrea Ranocchia in training. He seemed to have dismissed the problem as he scored in the match against South Korea, but tests today showed that the problem is more serious than suspected.
Italy hopes to improve on their third place finish in the 2004 Olympics in which they won the bronze medal game with a 1-0 win over Iraq.
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