Italy Sees Its Future in 1982 Win

It’s back to basics for Italy under Coach Cesare Maldini, who stepped in two years ago when Arrigo Sacchi left for Inter Milan after losing a friendly to Bosnia during the World Cup qualifying process.

Maldini, who coached Italy’s under-21 team to European championships in 1992, 1994 and 1996, got rid of the intricate defenses and notion to press from midfield that Sacchi had espoused. For Maldini, a former defender who played on four league champions and one European Champions Cup with Milan, everything old is new again.

The backbone of the Azzuri--so named because of the blue uniforms they favor--will be tight defense backed by a sweeper, discipline and organization in an impressive midfield and a traditional counterattacking offense. That was the strategy Italy employed to win the 1982 World Cup in Spain, where Maldini was the top assistant to coach Enzo Bearzot.

The transition to Maldini’s philosophy hasn’t gone altogether smoothly. Italy got off to a good start in qualifying but soon faltered, gaining a World Cup berth only after defeating Russia, 2-1, in a home-and-home playoff decided by total goals. However, Maldini’s system is considered refreshing in its simplicity and represents an acknowledgment of Italy’s great soccer tradition, which includes 14 World Cup appearances--the last 10 in a row--that resulted in championships in 1934, 1938 and 1982 and runner-up finishes in 1970 and 1994.

The change from Sacchi to Maldini was so welcome that Gianni Mura of the Rome newspaper La Repubblica wrote, “Maldini gives me the impression of a plate of bread and salami after years of nouvelle cuisine.”

Ah, but salami can sometimes be surprisingly spicy. And Maldini, whose team will compete with Chile, Austria and Cameroon in Group B, has made some unexpected roster decisions.

Defender Giuseppe Bergomi, 34 and a veteran of the 1982 championship team, was brought back to the national team for the first time since 1991. He will appear in his fourth World Cup.

Forward Roberto Baggio, whose inspired play led Italy to the 1994 Cup final but couldn’t convert a penalty kick in the decisive shootout against Brazil, was also reinstated after being scorned by Sacchi. Baggio was third in the Italian League in scoring last season with a career-high 22 goals for Bologna, but he played in only one game for the national team after the 1994 World Cup.

Maldini’s most prominent omissions were forward Gianfranco Zola, who scored the game-winning goal for the English club Chelsea against Stuttgart in the European Cup Winners Cup, and forward Pierluigi Casiraghi, whose goal against Russia in Naples clinched Italy’s World Cup berth. Maldini did select midfielder Sandro Cois of Fiorentina and defender Gianluca Pessotto of Juventus, who were not expected to make the team.

Striker Alessandro Del Piero sustained a groin injury while playing for Juventus in the European Cup final and was unable to practice at full strength for the final weeks leading up to the tournament, but he is expected to be ready. He will start beside Christian Vieri of the Spanish team Atletico Madrid. “He’s the No. 1 player of the Italian team and is set to become one of the stars at France ‘98,” said defender Paolo Maldini, the coach’s son and team captain.

Fabrizio Ravanelli, who plays for Olympic Marseille in France, called Italy’s offense as good as the much-vaunted attack of defending World Cup champion Brazil.

“There’s no country in the world with as many people to choose from up front as we have,” said Ravanelli, whose prematurely white hair makes him distinctive on the field. “If you asked 10 people which striker Italy should take to the World Cup, you’d have 10 different answers.

“Ronaldo [the Brazilian striker] and his teammates are extraordinary, but if Ronaldo played for Juventus, he might not be as good as Del Piero, who takes part more in the game as a whole. I think we can say that we’re on a level with the Brazilians.”

Perhaps, but their finishing ability will depend on how well the midfield plays. That’s a potential problem. Roberto Di Matteo, who plays in England for Chelsea, will be counted upon for creativity and will be joined by Dino Baggio of Parma and Demetrio Albertini of AC Milan, who injured a thigh in training but wasn’t seriously hurt. Francisco Moriero of Inter Milan, who had two goals against Paraguay in qualifying and plays an attacking style, and Luigi Di Biagio of AS Roma are possible alternatives.

Defense is Italy’s strength, and it has one of the world’s top defenders in left back Maldini. Paolo, who will turn 30 during the tournament, owes his place not to nepotism but to his grace, instincts and fearlessness; he was established as the team’s leader before his father became coach and his leadership will be heavily counted upon. He can also play central defense and is strong in the air. Central defender Ciro Ferrara’s broken leg hasn’t healed and his absence might be felt if sweeper Alessandro Costacurta’s struggles with AC Milan carry over to the World Cup squad.

Gianluca Pagliuca of Inter Milan will start in goal for injured Angelo Peruzzi. Peruzzi’s roster spot was taken by Fiorentina goalkeeper Francesco Toldo.

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GROUP B

THE SCHEDULE

THURSDAY

Italy vs. Chile, 11:30 a.m. (ESPN, Ch. 34)

Cameroon vs. Austria, 3 p.m. (ESPN, Ch. 34)

JUNE 17

Chile vs. Austria, 11:30 a.m. (ESPN, Ch. 34)

Italy vs. Cameroon 3 p.m. (ESPN, Ch. 34)

JUNE 23

Italy vs. Austria, 10 a.m. (ESPN, Ch. 34*)

Chile vs. Cameroon, 10 a.m. (ESPN, Ch. 34)

*Highlights