Vote of confidence for Trapattoni

'Complete trust' 
Trapattoni received the backing of the FIGC after a run of five defeats in ten games led to calls for his resignation. "This is not a temporary decision - we have complete trust in Trapattoni," said Abete today.

Italy's poor form
Italy have made a poor start to their UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying campaign - beating Azerbaijan but drawing at home to Yugoslavia and losing in Wales. They also exited last summer's FIFA World Cup in the second round at the hands of the Korean Republic.

Bridge the gap 
However, Abete insisted the 63-year-old would "stay on as coach at least until the end of the qualifying campaign". "We are sure we can close the gap on the other teams in the section," he said. Italy are third in Group 9 behind Wales and Yugoslavia.

Unlikely to resign
Trapattoni, who has resigned only once in a 30-year coaching career - as trainer of Cagliari Calcio in 1995/96 - took over as national coach from Dino Zoff, who quit in the aftermath of EURO 2000™.

'It won't be easy' 
"I would have accepted the federation's decision whatever it was - I have always been responsible for my actions," said 'Trap', whose former clubs include Juventus FC, AC Milan and Internazionale FC. "Carraro asked me to make a real go of it during the rest of the EURO 2004™ qualifiers. It won't be easy but I'm sure we can manage to get through."

Eriksson link
Italy face Turkey in a friendly on 20 November before resuming their Group 9 campaign against Finland on 12 February. Meanwhile, FIGC president Carraro denied rumours linking England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson with the Italy job.

'Not our style'
"It is not our style to speak to coaches currently employed by another federation," Carraro said. "No one at the FIGC has spoken to Eriksson and we are not interested in doing so now."