Italy boss Roberto Donadoni said that his side's Euro 2008 Group B match against France is too early in the competition to be significant. "This is an important match, but it's not decisive," Donadoni said according to Calcio Italia magazine. "This is only the second match in the Group. It's a little early to say this result will make all the difference." So far, Italy's campaign was kicked off with a disappointing 1-1 qualifying home draw with the lowly Lithuania. Donadini's career as Italy's coach has also been off to a rocky start. With his debut match suffering a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Croatia, the boss has started focusing on the cause of the World Cup winners' shaky performances. He acknowledged the lack of a domestic competition, which was postponed as a result of last season's match-fixing scandal, may be affecting the players, but believes they will improve as the season picks up. "The lads are in good shape and I hope they'll show more of what we had glimpses of against Lithuania," he said. The former Italy international went on to lament the lack of opportunity he has to train with his team, due to their club obligations.
Italy beat France to win the 2006 World Cup title "I don't have much time to work with the players. It's the curse of the international coach, my predecessors had to deal with this issue and now so do I," Donadoni added. It's been suggested that Donadoni will compensate by changing the team tactics, as well as switching up which players will participate. "I have an outline of the squad I'll use, but I'm waiting until the last training session tomorrow morning before telling the players. There will be some changes from the Lithuania match," he said. Reports in Italy have said Donadoni may use Gianluca Zambrotta, Alberto Gilardino and Franco Semioli as replacements for Massimo Oddo, Filippo Inzaghi and Daniele De Rossi. Regardless of line-up, Donadoni has prepared his team for the loud and unfriendly greeting they will receive in Paris on Wednesday. "It's clear that it'll be a hostile environment, but that needn't necessarily be a bad thing," Donadoni admitted. "The better we're able to play with such a strong fan reaction against us, the more France's team will get wound up." Italy won the 2006 World Cup after beating France in a penalty shootout in the final and Donadoni wants his players to prove they deserved to be crowned world champions. "The important thing is to leave the pitch with our heads held high," he said.
