World champions Italy enter their FIFA Confederations Cup clash against Egypt showing great respect to the Pharaohs. Despite losing 4-3 in the dying stage of their opening game against Brazil, Egypt will be buoyant after their impressive performance against Carlos Dunga's men. Italy's number one Gianluigi Buffon is fully aware that the six-time African champions are not an easy side to face. "We expect that Egypt, not only because of what they showed against Brazil, deserves great respect. If they are the champions of Africa there is a reason," the Juventus man said. "They are a team that plays well, are fast, and has great individuality. We may suffer, but with compactness and the right desire we can win." What can make the clash more difficult for the Azzuri is that the Egyptians are not just eyeing another honourable performance against Marcello Lippi's men. "I told my players that we have to beat Italy in order to make the semis, and I'm confident we are capable of achieving such goal," Shehata confirms. "We didn't come to South Africa just to take part. We came here to win the title."
Santon could start against Egypt Youth Invasion After Giuseppe Rossi came on to score twice for Italy against USA, Italian media are calling for Lippi to count more on the new faces he called up for the Confederations Cup. In a sign that the Villareal man might start against Egypt, Lippi fielded Rossi in an attacking trident alongside Luca Toni and Fabio Quagliarella in Wednesday's training. The former Juve boss also counted on 18-year-old full-back Davide Santon during the session, and it appears the Inter man could be given the nod on Thursday. "Today's training was more or less an indication of my plans for Thursday," Lippi said. Skipper Fabio Cannavaro is back from a calf injury and he will be leading Italy's back-line in place of Nicola Legrottaglie, who played against USA. On the other side, Egypt will be without right-back Ahmed Al-Muhammadi, who was sent-off against Brazil. Winger Ahmed Eid Abdul-Malek impressed after coming on in the Brazil loss and Shehata could well name him in the starting line up.
