Zoff takes charge of Italy's hopes

New Italian coach Dino Zoff is to begin preparations immediately for his side's first European Championship qualifier on September 5th.

Italy begin their Group games against Wales and Zoff has already begun talks to assemble his staff of assistants and coaches. The former SS Lazio president left the Roman club on Tuesday to begin his job as head of the national side. His first objective is to qualify for the European Championships in the year 2000 in Holland and Belgium.

Zoff is the most capped player in Italian football history but has bided his time before accepting the top job on the peninsula. He has been SS Lazio president for the past two seasons and has seen the club transform into serious contenders for the Serie A title in the coming season. He coached the side from the Latium for three seasons himself but did not enjoy the success of his time with Juventus at the turn of the decade. He coached a side to the UEFA Cup title and the Copa Italia beofre moving from Turin to Rome. His international experience is primarily based on a successful spell with the Italian Olympic side ten years ago that saw them remain unbeaten in the qualification for the Seoul Olympics. As a goalkeeper he played 112 times for Italy and captained the World Cup winning side in 1982 in Spain.

His spell as coach of SS Lazio was characterised by defensive play and struggles to control a wayward midfield which included Paul Gascoigne. He drove Roberto Di Matteo back into the holding position in the defence but did produce some sensational scoring performances from Giuseppe Signori in his first two seasons with the club.