World Cup winners Italy face potential embarrassment when they travel to Scotland for Saturday’s crucial Euro 2008 qualifier. Scotland currently lie in second position behind group leaders France after a number of impressive displays both home and away. If they beat Italy they will be through to next summer’s finals.

Italy must fear a repeat of the Euro 1984 qualifiers when, as world champions, they failed to qualify for the European finals. It was lowly Lithuania who inflicted damage all those years ago and a disappointing home draw last year against the same opposition could prove as costly as England’s 0-0 with Macedonia in Group E.

The Azzurri seem to take a while to find their best possible form, but that is a luxury they do not have this time around. Defeat on Saturday will prove fatal, unless knocked-out Ukraine can conjure up a surprise victory against France the following Wednesday.

'It hasn't helped that star players Francesco Totti and Alessandro Nesta have finally called it a day on their glittering international careers'


Scotland, ranked 13th in the world, will be no pushover, although the team does not boast any individual stars, Boss Alex McLeish has assembled a squad of players who perform above themselves against top teams. McLeish has named a full-strength squad for the decisive encounter and has been helped by the fact that Celtic and Rangers postponed last weekend’s league fixtures to avoid unexpected injuries.

McLeish’s opposite number, Roberto Donadoni, has been under fire since replacing Marcello Lippi. The 44-year-old former AC Milan and Italy midfielder has struggled to win over the media after last summer's triumph in Germany. The Italian press have heavily criticised the former Livorno boss for a number of indifferent results (like the 3-1 friendly defeat against Hungary) and the amount of players he has called up to the Azzurri squad.

Some pundits have suggested Donadoni lacks leadership skills and experience, which is why he has been unable to instill a distinctive identity into his national team so far. They have also pointed out that he has never coached a top club, unlike his immediate predecessors Lippi, Giovanni Trapattoni and Dino Zoff.

Many consider Donadoni's sluggish start to international management as unfortunate. Since day one he has been jinxed with a number of injuries, players debating retirement and poor displays on the field. When the European quest began in Naples, Italy had no fewer than nine of their World Cup winners absent and it’s been pretty much the same story throughout as Group B draws to a climax. You only have to look at Marco Materazzi’s freak injury in a friendly to realise how unlucky Donadoni has been.

It hasn't helped that star players Francesco Totti and Alessandro Nesta have finally called it a day on their glittering international careers. Totti, 30, took an extended break from the Azzurri after the World Cup and, while Italy have diverse options in attack, cover for ageing centre-backs Fabio Cannavaro and Materazzi looks stretched. Many may also question the captain’s displays of late. Since his rock-solid performances in Germany, Cannavaro has looked a shadow of his former self.

Italy’s poor start to the campaign can also be traced back to the ‘Calciopolli’ scandal. The match-fixing disgrace involving former general manager of Juventus, Luciano Moggi, drew the players together during the World Cup, contributing to their heroic victory but is now casting a big shadow on Italian football. It forced the season to be put back while it was determined which division Juventus, AC Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina would be in. Donadoni subsequently had to waste the mid-August pre-season friendly with Croatia by fielding a third-string side and losing 2-0. Therefore, the Spanish-based Antonio Cassano and Cannavaro aside, most of the squad were playing their first games of the season when they faced early opponents Lithuania and France.

While Italian football slowly recovers from turmoil, Scottish football could not be better. The resurgence is down to a number of aspects and proof of progress goes beyond high-profile victories against France both home and away. For example, take Rangers' 3-0 away demolition of Lyon and Celtic’s win over Milan as huge strides in the right direction. Scotland’s success can be attributed to the high level of competition their leading players now enjoy regularly both at home and over the border.

As Saturday draws closer Scotland and Italy will play out their own 'World Cup Final' as both nations bid to reach the promised land of Austria and Switzerland next summer.