Trapattoni targets Welsh as Italy bounce back

Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni believes his side can catch Group Nine leaders Wales and qualify automatically for next year's European championships in Portugal.

The Azzurri defeated Finland 2-0 in Sicily on Saturday but still remain five points behind Wales, who thrashed Azerbaijan the same day.

"I am optimistic, I always have been," said Trapattoni.

"You can make all the calculations you like, but the truth is we have to win our remaining four matches, above all our match against Wales (in September).

"We must make sure we don't drop points and hope they (Wales) slip up.

"I am only thinking about finishing first and I am convinced we can make it."

Winners of the group are guaranteed qualification, while the runners-up must take part in a two-legged play-off.

After one win in their previous three qualifiers, Italy could not afford further mistakes against the Finns, and they did not disappoint a partisan crowd in Palermo.

Two first-half goals from Christian Vieri settled a one-sided contest, with Italy showing the kind of form that took them to the European championship final in 2000 which they were unlucky to lose to France.

Vieri's lethal finishing was matched by the sublime skills of Roma captain Francesco Totti, who set up both of his team-mate's goals and bemused the visitors with the range and accuracy of his passing.

Trapattoni lamented the injuries to Vieri and Totti earlier in the season which had prevented the Italy coach from playing the pair together for nine months.

"The real regret is that we did not have these two world class players available for the entire qualifying campaign," he said.

"Totti is in excellent form and his quick mind and feet give opponents problems. When he plays like that he is one of the best in the world.

"Vieri is a great finisher but he has other qualities too. He is quick and strong and brings others around him into play."

Former Italy coaches voiced their pleasure at a resurgent Italy, whose next qualifier is away to Finland in June.

Cesare Maldini, in charge of the national team between 1996 and 1998, said: "When Totti and Vieri are fit, we can achieve almost anything, just like we did in Palermo."

Trapattoni's predecessor Dino Zoff, who led Italy to the 2000 European championship final in Holland, said: "It was a great performance, inspired by Totti. He was the light but he had a strong team behind him."