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Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni has warned his players against complacency as they prepare for this weekend's final Euro 2004 qualifier against Azerbaijan.
Italy lead Group Nine by one point and need to win Saturday's match in Reggio Calabria to ensure automatic qualification for next year's finals in Portugal.
But while the Welsh face a tough test against Serbia and Montenegro, the Azzurri's match against their bottom-placed opponents looks little more than a formality -- an impression the 64-year-old coach is keen to quash. "We're not there yet," he was quoted as saying on La Gazzetta dello Sport's website on Tuesday.
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"The climate of euphoria that's surrounded us since the games against Wales
and Serbia (in September) mustn't make us think we're already in Portugal. Ticketmaster
"There are plenty of examples of championships that have been lost on the final day."
Italy's path to Euro 2004 cleared last month after a 4-0 win over Wales and a 1-1 draw with Serbia and Montenegro put them top of the group. Ticketmaster
They look set to field a strong team against lowly Azerbaijan, with the return of AS Roma playmaker Francesco Totti to back up strikers Filippo Inzaghi and Christian Vieri. Trapattoni, however, insists his side can take nothing for granted.
"Even Azerbaijan isn't a team you can beat with words," he said. "We need a good performance and goals."