Italy must forget all about the "Totti Factor" or they are in danger of coming unstuck against a confident, in-form Sweden in their second Euro 2004 Group C game today.
Francesco Totti, the team's main playmaker, was given a three-game ban for spitting at Christian Poulsen in the opening goalless draw with Denmark, forcing coach Giovanni Trapattoni to drastically alter his plans.
For once Italy came into the tournament with a reasonably settled lineup and a system that allowed Totti, the great provider, a free role.
With him now gone, at least until the semi-finals if Italy get that far, the new look could feature his AS Roma team mate Antonio Cassano alongside Alessandro Del Piero, who he replaced after 64 minutes against Denmark, and Christian Vieri in attack.
But even before the Totti incident, Trapattoni had been considering changes after his team failed to impress in the opening game.
AC Milan duo Andrea Pirlo and the combative Gennaro Gattuso come in for Simone Perrotta and Mauro Camoranesi with only Cristiano Zanetti keeping his place in midfield.
Trapattoni knows that in Sweden he is facing a team high on confidence after their 5-0 thrashing of Bulgaria.
Two-goal striker Henrik Larsson is in top form alongside the ever-dangerous Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
ONE CHANGE
Sweden will be forced into at least one change with right back Teddy Lucic set to miss the game through injury.
Joint coaches Tommy Soderberg and Lars Lagerback will probably ask midfielder Mikael Nilsson to slot in at right back with Christian Wilhelmsson, who came on for Lucic against Bulgaria, moving into the midfield.
Lagerback said Sweden were prepared for whatever changes Italy made as a result of Totti's suspension.
"The Italy team may change, but Italy have a very good squad so another good player will come in. We'll concentrate on our game," he said.
"Of course, we have thought about (who might take Totti's place). If it's Cassano, we have prepared for that."
The Swedes are unbeaten in their last five matches, winning the last three, all those victories featuring a goal for striker Marcus Allback.
Since Euro 2000 they have lost only twice in 23 competitive matches -- after extra time to Senegal at the 2002 World Cup and to Latvia in Euro 2004 qualifying.
Probable teams:
Italy: (4-4-3) 1-Gianluigi Buffon; 2-Christian Panucci, 13-Alessandro Nesta, 5-Fabio Cannavaro, 19-Gianluca Zambrotta; 8-Gennaro Gattuso, 21-Andrea Pirlo, 4-Cristiano Zanetti (or 20-Simone Perrotta); 18-Antonio Cassano, 7-Alessandro Del Piero, 9-Christian Vieri.
Sweden: (4-4-2) 1-Andreas Isaksson; 7-Mikael Nilsson, 3-Olof Mellberg, 15-Andreas Jakobsson, 5-Erik Edman; 21-Christian Wilhelmsson, 6-Tobias Linderoth, 8-Anders Svensson, 9-Fredrik Ljungberg; 10-Zlatan Ibrahimovic,11-Henrik Larsson.
Referee - Urs Meier (Switzerland)
Linesmen - Francesco Buragina (Switzerland), Rudolf Kappeli
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