Donadoni managing great expectations

Replacing FIFA World Cup winning coach Marcello Lippi was never going to be easy, but Roberto Donadoni has risen to the challenge in style. Now, having guided the Azzurri through a difficult qualifying campaign, the stakes are higher than ever as the 44-year-old aims to emulate his predecessor and win UEFA EURO 2008™.  

'Never easy'
"It's never easy when everybody has such great expectations," Donadoni told uefa.com. "The team, however, responded perfectly in all respects. When I took the job I inherited a group of top-level players and a very good coaching staff who gave me a great support. Everything went well after that."

'Determination'
The 44-year-old, though, is fully aware that the praise he earned during qualifying will soon be forgotten should Italy fall flat in Switzerland and Austria. "You start from zero again," he said. "Qualifying is history and will not give us any advantage in the finals. At every stage we have to measure ourselves up against our opponents who will try to cause us trouble. There is nothing new about that. We just need to have the right determination."

Tough draw
Donadoni, who is yet to decide whether to continue as Italy coach after the tournament, could be forgiven for the thinking the gods are conspiring against him after the Azzurri were drawn alongside the Netherlands, France (again) and Romania in Group C. He knows everything will have to go right in the build up to the Italy's first match against the Netherlands on 9 June in Berne if his side are to get their hands on more silverware this summer.

Fitness key
"My wish? I think it's quite obvious. I would like to have a team in good athletic condition. This is my biggest worry ahead of the finals. After that it doesn't make much difference if you face France, the Netherlands or Austria. If you have a team in the best physical condition you can play any opponent without fear."


Van Basten praise
Italy kick off on 9 June against the Netherlands in Berne. The Oranje are coached by Donadoni's former AC Milan team-mate Marco van Basten, who knows better than most what it takes to win the competition. "Usually everybody remembers a direct experience, but I think Marco van Basten's goal in the final against Russia in 1988 is surely among the most beautiful goals in the competition," said Donadoni, who twice played in the tournament in 1988 and 1992.

'Important experiences'
"They were both important experiences," he recalls. "For a footballer taking part in a European Championship is important regardless the result. Once we lost in the semi-finals against Russia, once we failed to qualify from the group stage, missing a penalty in the decisive game. However they were both great experiences in top-level tournaments."
 
Important duty
Donadoni, who played under Arrigo Sacchi for Milan and Italy, hopes to use that experience to help his younger players. "I think it's a logical consequence," he said. "I have had many experiences during my career and I was lucky to play with several good coaches and team-mates. Now I have to share those experiences with my players. This is one of the most important duties for a coach."

Focus
That will be particularly important for those called on to replace talismen Alessandro Nesta and Francesco Totti, who retired from international football after the World Cup. Donadoni's priority is ensuring he gets the best out of that talent. "When you reach the finals the most important thing is the mental condition of the players and the coaches," he said.

Injury fears
"Obviously the main actors are the players and it's important they reach the finals without suffering injuries or without being too tired. That's crucial if you want to play at your best in a tournament like the European Championships or the World Cup." After cheering their side on to victory in Berlin two years ago, Azzurri fans expect nothing less.