Italy coach Marcello Lippi will take nothing for granted when the world champions start the defence of their title against Cyprus here Saturday.
Cyprus will not be underestimated. We will be very careful knowing what happened in the past, Lippi said on Friday.
That was a reference to a game in 1983 when Cyprus secured an unlikely 1-1 draw at home to Italy in a European championship qualifier.
Then, as now, Italy were world champions, but needed an own goal to get them out of trouble.
I ve watched many games, especially those from last season in the Euro qualifiers and the recent friendly against Switzerland and I have a good idea of what Cyprus can do, said Lippi.
But the World Cup-winning coach said Italy will play to their strengths.
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