Looks like Del Piero and Pirlo will be on the bench for this game. He's starting with Di Natale and Toni instead. 
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Official Azzurri (Italy) Euro 2008 Qualifier thread (30 Viewers)
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Del Piero-Toni would be perfect with Pirlo supplying them. Though I gotta admit Pirlo is not in his best form these days.....
But Pirlo does play better with the national team than Milan IMO. Plus, he's the one who basically beat Scotland all by himself last year. 
Roberto Donadoni has shaken off all questions on his future and asked for patience in the do or die Euro 2008 qualifier with Scotland.
“My future? That question does not interest me. All I am focusing on is the match with Scotland,” said the under-fire Italy boss.
Anything less than a victory at the Stadio San Nicola on Wednesday evening could see him sacked during the summer, with Milan’s Carlo Ancelotti tipped to take over.
“This is not the game of our lives,” assured Donadoni. “There is no need to launch into an attack the moment the opening whistle goes. It is an important tie that needs to be treated with the due balance and lasts for 90 minutes.
“Clearly we will play to win, but I would be happy to achieve it the way Scotland did against Georgia last Saturday – at the last minute.”:wth:
But the Azzurri’s situation is a complex one, as they are now fourth in Group B – five points adrift of France and Scotland, with a two-point gap from the Ukraine.
“We have got to use our heads in this match. It would be a terrible mistake to want everything at once. We must maintain a good tempo, but not simply charging at the opposition.”
Gianluigi Buffon is expected to start after recovering from a stomach bug over the weekend. “He showed great character to make it,” added Donadoni.
The Juventus goalkeeper himself was slightly less emphatic in his comment. “I feel better than in previous days. If tonight there are no setbacks, then I can play without problems. We are human beings, though, and sometimes your head, heart and battling spirit aren’t enough.”
In this evening’s game between ranks, Marco Materazzi, Mauro Camoranesi and Alessandro Del Piero bagged a brace each.
The main doubt seems to be on Gianluca Zambrotta, who was fielded on the right in training, whereas Roma’s Max Tonetto was on the left in the other team.
Nonetheless, it is expected that Donadoni will start against Scotland with this line-up: Buffon; Oddo, Cannavaro, Materazzi, Zambrotta; Gattuso, De Rossi; Camoranesi, Perrotta, Di Natale; Totti.(i think they mean Toni)
Meanwhile, the FIGC has confirmed that the only candidate for the Presidency will be current vice-President Giancarlo Abete.
Extraordinary Commissioner Luca Pancalli will step down after guiding the Federation through the after-effects of Calciopoli and an election will be held on April 2 in Rome.
One of UEFA’s stipulations for Italy to host the Euro 2012 games is that they have a permanent President in place.
Football Italia
“My future? That question does not interest me. All I am focusing on is the match with Scotland,” said the under-fire Italy boss.
Anything less than a victory at the Stadio San Nicola on Wednesday evening could see him sacked during the summer, with Milan’s Carlo Ancelotti tipped to take over.
“This is not the game of our lives,” assured Donadoni. “There is no need to launch into an attack the moment the opening whistle goes. It is an important tie that needs to be treated with the due balance and lasts for 90 minutes.
“Clearly we will play to win, but I would be happy to achieve it the way Scotland did against Georgia last Saturday – at the last minute.”:wth:
But the Azzurri’s situation is a complex one, as they are now fourth in Group B – five points adrift of France and Scotland, with a two-point gap from the Ukraine.
“We have got to use our heads in this match. It would be a terrible mistake to want everything at once. We must maintain a good tempo, but not simply charging at the opposition.”
Gianluigi Buffon is expected to start after recovering from a stomach bug over the weekend. “He showed great character to make it,” added Donadoni.
The Juventus goalkeeper himself was slightly less emphatic in his comment. “I feel better than in previous days. If tonight there are no setbacks, then I can play without problems. We are human beings, though, and sometimes your head, heart and battling spirit aren’t enough.”
In this evening’s game between ranks, Marco Materazzi, Mauro Camoranesi and Alessandro Del Piero bagged a brace each.
The main doubt seems to be on Gianluca Zambrotta, who was fielded on the right in training, whereas Roma’s Max Tonetto was on the left in the other team.
Nonetheless, it is expected that Donadoni will start against Scotland with this line-up: Buffon; Oddo, Cannavaro, Materazzi, Zambrotta; Gattuso, De Rossi; Camoranesi, Perrotta, Di Natale; Totti.(i think they mean Toni)
Meanwhile, the FIGC has confirmed that the only candidate for the Presidency will be current vice-President Giancarlo Abete.
Extraordinary Commissioner Luca Pancalli will step down after guiding the Federation through the after-effects of Calciopoli and an election will be held on April 2 in Rome.
One of UEFA’s stipulations for Italy to host the Euro 2012 games is that they have a permanent President in place.
Football Italia
A draw for the Scots - who together with France top Group B on 12 points - would maintain their five-point lead over the Italians and leave them in a strong position to reach next year's tournament in Austria and Switzerland.
"I don't think many people would bet on us winning this game and to stop Italy we will have to be at our very best," McLeish, whose managerial reign began with a last-gasp 2-1 Group B win over Georgia last weekend, told a news conference here on Tuesday.
"It's a massive challenge as we are playing against some world class players and Serie A is one of the best leagues in world, so we are under no illusions.
"But we are confident. No Scottish team has taken a point from a qualifying match in Italy, and we would like to make history."
Italy have lost on all of their five previous visits to Italy, three competitive matches and two friendlies.
When asked was it possible to play for a draw against the world champions, McLeish replied: "We play within a strategy that can get you opportunities when you have the ball."
McLeish's counterpart Roberto Donadoni, who according to some media reports could be sacked if the Azzurri lose on Wednesday, was equally cautious.
"It's a massive game and it would be a mistake to risk everything and be overly committed," he said.
"We have to play with our heads and with great conviction, but we also have to be patient."
Donadoni said Scotland, whose best result in the group was a 1-0 home win over beaten World Cup finalists France, were worthy of their place at the top of the group.
"I'm not surprised they're top, and they are there on merit," said the former AC Milan and Italy midfielder.
"They play with great spirit and character and we are expecting a real battle."
Italy are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Buffon protected by a back four of, from right to left, Massimo Oddo, Fabio Cannavaro, Marco Materazzi and Gianluca Zambrotta.
Gennaro Gattuso and Daniele De Rossi are likely to anchor the midfield with Mauro Camoranesi, Simone Perrotta and Antonio Di Natale playing in more advanced roles. Luca Toni will probably play as a lone striker.
McLeish said he had chosen his starting side, but refused to disclose it.
"I don't think many people would bet on us winning this game and to stop Italy we will have to be at our very best," McLeish, whose managerial reign began with a last-gasp 2-1 Group B win over Georgia last weekend, told a news conference here on Tuesday.
"It's a massive challenge as we are playing against some world class players and Serie A is one of the best leagues in world, so we are under no illusions.
"But we are confident. No Scottish team has taken a point from a qualifying match in Italy, and we would like to make history."
Italy have lost on all of their five previous visits to Italy, three competitive matches and two friendlies.
When asked was it possible to play for a draw against the world champions, McLeish replied: "We play within a strategy that can get you opportunities when you have the ball."
McLeish's counterpart Roberto Donadoni, who according to some media reports could be sacked if the Azzurri lose on Wednesday, was equally cautious.
"It's a massive game and it would be a mistake to risk everything and be overly committed," he said.
"We have to play with our heads and with great conviction, but we also have to be patient."
Donadoni said Scotland, whose best result in the group was a 1-0 home win over beaten World Cup finalists France, were worthy of their place at the top of the group.
"I'm not surprised they're top, and they are there on merit," said the former AC Milan and Italy midfielder.
"They play with great spirit and character and we are expecting a real battle."
Italy are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Buffon protected by a back four of, from right to left, Massimo Oddo, Fabio Cannavaro, Marco Materazzi and Gianluca Zambrotta.
Gennaro Gattuso and Daniele De Rossi are likely to anchor the midfield with Mauro Camoranesi, Simone Perrotta and Antonio Di Natale playing in more advanced roles. Luca Toni will probably play as a lone striker.
McLeish said he had chosen his starting side, but refused to disclose it.
Scotland will this evening step into one of the most spectacular white elephants of a stadium anywhere in world football. Bari's 58,000-capacity San Nicola venue is the equivalent of Hampden Park being rebuilt in Fife to provide a new home for Dunfermline.
Its baffling existence is a tale of political intrigue, family power, stacks of public money, and a World Cup. Seventeen years after the San Nicola's £60m construction for the 1990 tournament, Bari has been left with a futuristic two-tiered bowl that is often just 10% full. Only 4,554 seats were taken for the club's last home match in Serie B, a 2-0 defeat from Cesena.
Being outwith the Italian top division is not unusual for Bari, as they have spent the past six seasons in such a position. The 10th place in Serie A achieved, ironically, in 1990 remains the post-war peak for a team whose only trophy is the Mitropa Cup, a now-defunct competition for the champions of European second divisions.
Yet when the organisers of Italia 90 decided two completely new stadiums were needed, Bari joined Turin in having the heavy machinery sent in. It just so happened that one of the two men fronting the project, Antonio Matarrese, (pictured), was president of the Italian football federation FIGC, and a politician whose powerbase lay in Bari.
Indeed, he had bought the football club after being elected into parliament as a representative for the southern city in 1976.
Antonio's brother, Vicenzo, succeeded him as Bari club president in the 1980s and made a fanfare of the new stadium project in which no expense was spared.
Renzo Piano, famous for designing the Pompidou Centre in Paris alongside Richard Rogers, was enlisted to provide cutting edge architecture for the site. It was undoubtedly eye-catching, but many in Italy pointed out that it was far too big. Little Bari were gaining a ground just 9000 seats smaller than the one being constructed concurrently for Juventus.
And so it has proved. Matarrese's influence within UEFA helped bring the 1991 European Cup final to the San Nicola, but it is a stadium that has since struggled to stay in the limelight.
Despite a flurry of big-name signings including David Platt and Kennet Andersson, Bari continued to yo-yo between the divisions before settling in their current slump. The Matarrese family have now effectively put the club up for sale amid widespread public disillusionment at their control.
Roman Abramovich was recently rumoured to have expressed an interest, but no white knight has yet emerged to help fill the white elephant.
The Stadio Delle Alpi, the other ground built for Italia 90, has fared little better. Pressure from Primo Nebiolo, the powerful head of Italian athletics, forced the inclusion of a running track in the blueprints for the out-of-town venue.
That meant supporters were placed some distance from the pitch, with areas of poor viewing, leaving the Delle Alpi as pretty much the most unpopular stadium in Italy. Juventus are currently working on plans for its reconstruction as a 50,000-seater arena without the track.
Despite the failings of the World Cup stadia, and other subsequent problems, Matarrese remained at the head of the FIGC until 1996. He is currently president of the Lega Calcio, which looks after the interests of Italy's professional clubs.
Last month, Matarrese managed to cause outrage as the nation was coming to terms with death of Filippo Raciti, the Sicilian policeman killed amid a riot at a derby match on the island. Football was immediately suspended as a mark of respect and to improve security at stadia, but the official disagreed with that decision.
"Deaths unfortunately form part of this huge movement which is football and which the forces of order are not always able to control," Matarrese told La Repubblica newspaper.
"Football should never be stopped. It's the No.1 rule: football is the industry . . . do you think there's an industry that would close its factories and not know when they're going to reopen? We are touched, but the show must go on."
The Italian Olympic Committee immediately released a statement condemning Matarrese, but his position as one of European sport's most enduring political operators remains intact. The San Nicola stadium stands as monument to that influence, and the sometimes arcane workings of Italian football.
'Buffon has trained well today,' said Donadoni. 'He hasn't been at his best in the past few days but I'm hoping that his condition will improve overnight and that he will be available to play tomorrow tonight.
'Buffon knows the importance of this game, he wanted to train and I'm sure he will want to play tomorrow.'
Buffon and Co realise the significance of the encounter with the Azzurri trailing five points behind Group B leaders Scotland, after only two wins in four qualifying games.
However, Donadoni believes their hunger to win should not give his players room for anxiety early in the game.
'We must use our heads,' he said. 'We will make a big mistake to be in a hurry to score, this would only be a counter-productive for us. We must remember that a game lasts 90 minutes.
'Of course, our aim is to win this game but this is not the game of our lives.
'For us it's crucial to get a result against Scotland, that is what we have been working for this week.
'We know we will face challenges against them but we will try to make life difficult for them too.'
Having watched Alex McLeish's side claim a late win against Georgia at the weekend, Donadoni believes Scotland's main strength is the team's fighting spirit.
'They fought for a win until the end against Georgia,' he said. 'They showed a lot of character and it's no surprise that they currently have 12 points in the standings.
'We knew our group was going to be very balanced and that has been the case so far.'
Donadoni will have captain Fabio Cannavaro available despite the Real Madrid defender having sustained a minor injury after an accidental elbow during Tuesday's training.
When badgered by the Italian press about the disastrous consequences of a defeat by the joint Group B leaders in Bari, Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro refused to be ruffled, replying: "we'll just have to win then".
Victory only option for World Champs in Euro 2008 qualifier
The European and FIFA World Player of the Year has said that he is confident Italy will come through because "this squad always gives its best in difficult moments, when you can't make any more mistakes".
The comments reminded pundits of a similar outburst by Donadoni's predecessor Marcello Lippi during Germany 2006. Many believe the siege mentality Lippi instilled in his squad at the World Cup, after the Calciopoli referee-rigging scandal had people calling for the coach and several top players to quit, was the key to Italy's success.
Donadoni stressed, however, that there is no reason for a team that have won their last two qualifiers to be pessimistic - not yet, anyway.
Buffon was back in action on Tuesday, but Torino's Christian Abbiati is ready to stand in between the posts if the Juve man is not fit to play. Many of the 5,000 kilt-clad Scottish fans expected to attend Wednesday's match are already in Bari, where they have been greeted by the rainy weather of their homeland.
Authorities in the southern city have banned the public sale and consumption of alcohol between 8am and midnight on Wednesday to prevent trouble.
They also stressed that banners with violent, racist or anti-Semitic sentiments will not be allowed into Bari's Stadio San Nicola.
Its baffling existence is a tale of political intrigue, family power, stacks of public money, and a World Cup. Seventeen years after the San Nicola's £60m construction for the 1990 tournament, Bari has been left with a futuristic two-tiered bowl that is often just 10% full. Only 4,554 seats were taken for the club's last home match in Serie B, a 2-0 defeat from Cesena.
Being outwith the Italian top division is not unusual for Bari, as they have spent the past six seasons in such a position. The 10th place in Serie A achieved, ironically, in 1990 remains the post-war peak for a team whose only trophy is the Mitropa Cup, a now-defunct competition for the champions of European second divisions.
Yet when the organisers of Italia 90 decided two completely new stadiums were needed, Bari joined Turin in having the heavy machinery sent in. It just so happened that one of the two men fronting the project, Antonio Matarrese, (pictured), was president of the Italian football federation FIGC, and a politician whose powerbase lay in Bari.
Indeed, he had bought the football club after being elected into parliament as a representative for the southern city in 1976.
Antonio's brother, Vicenzo, succeeded him as Bari club president in the 1980s and made a fanfare of the new stadium project in which no expense was spared.
Renzo Piano, famous for designing the Pompidou Centre in Paris alongside Richard Rogers, was enlisted to provide cutting edge architecture for the site. It was undoubtedly eye-catching, but many in Italy pointed out that it was far too big. Little Bari were gaining a ground just 9000 seats smaller than the one being constructed concurrently for Juventus.
And so it has proved. Matarrese's influence within UEFA helped bring the 1991 European Cup final to the San Nicola, but it is a stadium that has since struggled to stay in the limelight.
Despite a flurry of big-name signings including David Platt and Kennet Andersson, Bari continued to yo-yo between the divisions before settling in their current slump. The Matarrese family have now effectively put the club up for sale amid widespread public disillusionment at their control.
Roman Abramovich was recently rumoured to have expressed an interest, but no white knight has yet emerged to help fill the white elephant.
The Stadio Delle Alpi, the other ground built for Italia 90, has fared little better. Pressure from Primo Nebiolo, the powerful head of Italian athletics, forced the inclusion of a running track in the blueprints for the out-of-town venue.
That meant supporters were placed some distance from the pitch, with areas of poor viewing, leaving the Delle Alpi as pretty much the most unpopular stadium in Italy. Juventus are currently working on plans for its reconstruction as a 50,000-seater arena without the track.
Despite the failings of the World Cup stadia, and other subsequent problems, Matarrese remained at the head of the FIGC until 1996. He is currently president of the Lega Calcio, which looks after the interests of Italy's professional clubs.
Last month, Matarrese managed to cause outrage as the nation was coming to terms with death of Filippo Raciti, the Sicilian policeman killed amid a riot at a derby match on the island. Football was immediately suspended as a mark of respect and to improve security at stadia, but the official disagreed with that decision.
"Deaths unfortunately form part of this huge movement which is football and which the forces of order are not always able to control," Matarrese told La Repubblica newspaper.
"Football should never be stopped. It's the No.1 rule: football is the industry . . . do you think there's an industry that would close its factories and not know when they're going to reopen? We are touched, but the show must go on."
The Italian Olympic Committee immediately released a statement condemning Matarrese, but his position as one of European sport's most enduring political operators remains intact. The San Nicola stadium stands as monument to that influence, and the sometimes arcane workings of Italian football.
'Buffon has trained well today,' said Donadoni. 'He hasn't been at his best in the past few days but I'm hoping that his condition will improve overnight and that he will be available to play tomorrow tonight.
'Buffon knows the importance of this game, he wanted to train and I'm sure he will want to play tomorrow.'
Buffon and Co realise the significance of the encounter with the Azzurri trailing five points behind Group B leaders Scotland, after only two wins in four qualifying games.
However, Donadoni believes their hunger to win should not give his players room for anxiety early in the game.
'We must use our heads,' he said. 'We will make a big mistake to be in a hurry to score, this would only be a counter-productive for us. We must remember that a game lasts 90 minutes.
'Of course, our aim is to win this game but this is not the game of our lives.
'For us it's crucial to get a result against Scotland, that is what we have been working for this week.
'We know we will face challenges against them but we will try to make life difficult for them too.'
Having watched Alex McLeish's side claim a late win against Georgia at the weekend, Donadoni believes Scotland's main strength is the team's fighting spirit.
'They fought for a win until the end against Georgia,' he said. 'They showed a lot of character and it's no surprise that they currently have 12 points in the standings.
'We knew our group was going to be very balanced and that has been the case so far.'
Donadoni will have captain Fabio Cannavaro available despite the Real Madrid defender having sustained a minor injury after an accidental elbow during Tuesday's training.
When badgered by the Italian press about the disastrous consequences of a defeat by the joint Group B leaders in Bari, Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro refused to be ruffled, replying: "we'll just have to win then".
Victory only option for World Champs in Euro 2008 qualifier
The European and FIFA World Player of the Year has said that he is confident Italy will come through because "this squad always gives its best in difficult moments, when you can't make any more mistakes".
The comments reminded pundits of a similar outburst by Donadoni's predecessor Marcello Lippi during Germany 2006. Many believe the siege mentality Lippi instilled in his squad at the World Cup, after the Calciopoli referee-rigging scandal had people calling for the coach and several top players to quit, was the key to Italy's success.
Donadoni stressed, however, that there is no reason for a team that have won their last two qualifiers to be pessimistic - not yet, anyway.
Buffon was back in action on Tuesday, but Torino's Christian Abbiati is ready to stand in between the posts if the Juve man is not fit to play. Many of the 5,000 kilt-clad Scottish fans expected to attend Wednesday's match are already in Bari, where they have been greeted by the rainy weather of their homeland.
Authorities in the southern city have banned the public sale and consumption of alcohol between 8am and midnight on Wednesday to prevent trouble.
They also stressed that banners with violent, racist or anti-Semitic sentiments will not be allowed into Bari's Stadio San Nicola.
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