By Simon Evans
ROME, June 4 - Italy's 1982 World Cup hero Paolo
Rossi believes team spirit and attacking quality can deliver a
successful tournament for Marcello Lippi's side.
Rossi, whose six goals including a hat-trick against Brazil,
inspired the Azzurri to glory in Spain 24 years ago, says the
key to World Cup success is above all a united dressing room.
"You need quality players that's without doubt. Without the
quality you aren't going to go the whole way," he said.
"But you also need to be a united group, without jealousies
and rivalries inside the team. You need people who can help each
other," Rossi told Reuters in an interview.
"We had all that there in 1982. We were friends and we had a
common objective. If you have that then you can do it; if there
are factions or people with different aims it becomes tough."
At Spain '82 Italy struggled in their first round group
games, failing to win a match, and Rossi, along with the rest of
the team, suffered plenty of criticism from the Italian media.
The former Juventus striker, now working as a pundit for
Italy's Sky Sport television network, says that sometimes a
negative reaction from the pundits or fans can help unite a team
and make them more determined.
"It helps. It fortifies the group, without doubt. Sometimes
criticism can bring people together but if that is to be the
case you need to have players with experience and above all
character in that situation," said Rossi.
EXPERIENCE HELPS
"You do get used to it. In '82 we had many players who had
also been at the World Cup in 1978 in Argentina and that
experience helped us.
"You know that when things aren't going well you are going
to get criticised.
"There is constructive criticism that you can take on board.
You mustn't let that affect you during a game. A player needs to
focus on his psychological and physical preparation," he added.
Italy go into this year's finals in Germany, which kick off
on Friday, on an unbeaten run of 18 matches and Rossi beleives
that is testimony to the quality of Lippi's side.
"Don't forget that this team hasn't lost for a year and a
half. That shows they have some value. That doesn't happen by
accident, there is quality in the squad.
"I'm sure that Italy can have a great World Cup. Brazil are
the only team that are a bit above the others then there are
quite a few teams on a similar level to each other," he said.
Lippi has no shortage of options up front but Rossi believes
it is vital to have a completely fit Francesco Totti with the
striker having only just returned after an ankle operation.
"Luca Toni is very strong and has developed a lot in the
past two years but he is not the only quality forward available.
"There is (also) Alberto Gilardino, Filippo Inzaghi,
Alessandro Del Piero, a lot of strong attackers, and we have to
hope that Totti recovers fully, he is a key player."
Italy face Ghana in their opening match on June 12 before
playing the United States and Czech Republic in Group E.