Italy inactivity worries Donadoni

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ROME, Italy -- Italy coach Roberto Donadoni said on Tuesday that the four-month gap without playing an international match may have a negative effect on the world champions.

The Azzurri, whose last game was against Turkey last November, host Scotland in Bari on Wednesday March 28 in a crucial Group B Euro 2008 qualifier.

Italy should have played Romania in February but the match was canceled after a brief ban on all domestic and international matches following crowd trouble at a league match in Catania where a policeman was killed.

"I don't want to make excuses, but it's worth pointing out that the national team has not played for four months and that's a big disadvantage," said Donadoni at Italy's training camp in Coverciano, Florence.

"The decision to stop matches was the right one, but not playing against Romania has been a real handicap for us."

Donadoni, who took over at the helm after Marcello Lippi stepped down following the World Cup, said he would be in Glasgow on Saturday to see Scotland's Group B qualifier against Georgia.

"I want to see how they play under their new coach," Donadoni said referring to Alex McLeish who took over from Walter Smith in January.

"It's a big game as Scotland could have 12 points by the time they face us."

France, beaten by Italy in a penalty shootout in the World Cup final, and Scotland are currently tied for top spot in Group B on nine points, followed by Donadoni's team on seven.

France warning

France coach Raymond Domenech has urged his squad not to take victory for granted when they travel to Lithuania for a Euro 2008 qualifier on Saturday.

France's run to the World Cup final in Germany last year had made them complacent said Domenech whose side have lost twice in their last four games.

They dropped to second in the Euro 2008 qualifying Group B following a 1-0 defeat in Scotland in October before being outplayed with the same scoreline by Argentina in a friendly at the Stade de France last month.

"I see there a sign of self-satisfaction," Domenech told a news conference on Tuesday.

"We are more relaxed ahead of our games while we should have a real fighting spirit going into these matches.

"We just tell ourselves: 'Well, we will qualify (for Euro 2008)' but if you want to win a game, you need to fight for it. I really hope everyone is going to turn the page (of the World Cup)," he added.

The France coach has to cope with the absence of Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, Olympique Marseille midfielder Franck Ribery and captain Patrick Vieira.

He has also decided to leave out Olympique Lyon defensive midfielder Alou Diarra and Juventus striker David Trezeguet.

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