Ventura: No rough stuff

ITALY coach Gian Piero Ventura has vowed his team will try to qualify for the World Cup tonight by “playing football” after an illtempered play-off first leg against Sweden.

Ventura, at 69 the oldest national coach in Italian history, said it would take him months to listen to all the advice he had received as he bids to overturn Friday’s 1-0 first-leg defeat in Stockholm. Italy are in danger of missing the World Cup for the first time in 60 years. They complained of rough tactics in the first leg, including a challenge which left Leonardo Bonucci with a broken nose – he will play in a face mask in Milan – while Sweden were unhappy at their rivals’ alleged gamesmanship. “We are Italy and, if we qualify, I would like to be able to say we did it playing football,” said Ventura, left.

“I don’t know what sort of game it will be but I hope it will be played in the correct spirit.”

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said the team were in a state of “high tension” ahead of the match.

“It’s an important one for us and our history,” he said “I’m tense, but it’s the right amount of tension.”