World champions Italy don’t scare Roque Santa Cruz

Case for the defence: Fabio Cannavaro believes Italy’s back four hold the key for the defending champions
10 April 2012

Roque Santa Cruz has taunted defending champions Italy by insisting Paraguay will win tonight's Group F clash without conceding a goal.

The 28-year-old Manchester City striker is set to lead the line in Cape Town as the South Americans prepare for their fourth successive finals.

Having beaten both Brazil and Argentina in an impressive qualifying campaign, confidence is high and Santa Cruz is not fazed by facing the holders who are 26 places higher in FIFA's latest rankings.

"We will win 1-0 or 2-0," he said. "We want to get the victory. We're a good side and can do something important in this World Cup. It's a very compact squad with great players in defence and midfield, plus four top-class forwards — something we did not have before.

"We must play an intelligent game and calmly build our way to goal."

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro, who lifted the trophy in Germany four years ago, admitted the Azzurri will have to be resilient at the back once more.

"Defence is vital but that doesn't mean we'll stay in our own half of the pitch," said the 36-year-old. "We'll never play an attacking game like Brazil, Portugal or Spain but they'll never be able to defend like us."

The average age of Italy's World Cup squad is 28.2 years old — only Australia, England and Brazil's are older — but Marcello Lippi believes that the presence of younger players including Giuseppe Rossi, Giampaolo Pazzini and Giorgio Chiellini gives his squad the right blend to go far at the tournament. The 62-year-old manager said: "We've got old players but age doesn't mean they are broken down, it means experience and charisma.

"We're used to matches at a high level and we have the right mix with our young players."

Italy will be without influential midfielder Andrea Pirlo due to a calf problem, while Daniele De Rossi is a doubt with a similar injury.

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