World Champion Italy In Poor Form

Italy struggled against soccer minnow Georgia in the Euro 2008 qualifying Group B over the weekend. The result 2-0 was flattering for a lackluster performance and they need to improve a lot against a resurgent Scotland next month.

Goals from Andrea Pirlo and Fabio Grosso in each half kept Italy in second spot below Scotland but above France. They are still not in the clear yet as a defeat by the Scots and a victory for France against Lithuania would leave qualification out of the Italians' hands, even if they win their last match against Faroe Islands.

This match should have been easy especially when Georgia's most notable player, Kakha Kaladze who is playing for AC Milan, is missing through injury. However, Italy has not been the same since winning the World Cup and struggled to stamp their authority on the match.

Italian coach Roberto Donadoni will do well to reconsider the role of strikers Alessandro del Piero and Filippo Inzaghi in the team. Both are getting old, approaching 35, and are no longer as effective as in their hey days.

With the main strikers misfiring and defenders like Fabio Cannavaro, Marco Materazzi and Gianluca Zambrotta injured, no wonder Roberto commented that "the important thing was the result."