June 9th, 2000

Toldo hopes to lead Italy to title

by TREVOR HUGGINS

GEEL, Belgium - Italy will have to play to the death and
treat every match like a final if it is to win the Euro 2000 title,
according to goalkeeper Francesco Toldo.
Toldo, who replaces injured first-choice Gianluigi Buffon between the
Italian posts when Italy faces Turkey Sunday at Arnhem, belives that Dino Zoff's
men can win the European championship if they believe in themselves and play to
their full abilities.
Italy has struggled on the international scene this season, losing four of
its last seven games, the most recent being a 0-1 upset to Norway last
weekend - the match that ended Buffon's Euro hopes.
Asked what he could bring to the Italian squad, Toldo said: "I feel that I
can add a little more conviction to the side.
"This team has what it takes to do well, but we need that extra bit of
determination and anger which makes a team fight harder during their
matches.
"We need to play as if it is to the death. Every match has to be like a
relegation decider or a final. If we play like that, no-one else has a
chance.
"But by the same token, if we do not put these things into practice we
are going to have problems."
Toldo, who regretted having to replace Buffon because of injury, did not
feel as if a dream had come true for him in becoming Italy's number one.
"I don't think it's a dream - I think its the reality. I think it is a
just reward for two really good seasons with Fiorentina."
And he paid tribute to Italy's long tradition of producing top notch
goalkeepers, including Italy's current coach and 1982 World Cup winner Zoff, who
lifted the European title as a player in 1968.
"The goalkeeper's position is the one where we are most covered of them
all. And I am not saying that to be presumptious, absolutely not. The Italian
goalkeeping school is world class and I think that is part of our history."
Italy's popularity has been on the wane with a disappointing run of results
which has sent television ratings plummetting in recent months.
But 28-year-old Toldo said that Euro 2000 could see that situation changed.
"The eyes of a nation are turned on us and we have a lot of responsibility.
In the end, I think we are going to repay the Italian people for having stood by us.
As for Sunday's opener against Turkey he said: "I think that even a draw
would be alright. The important thing is not to lose."

Taken from Sportserver