Little to choose between old rivals

According to Marcel Desailly winning the UEFA European Championship is harder than winning the FIFA World Cup, and having lifted both for France he would know.

Final reprise
The centre-back was part of France's triumphant World Cup-winning side in 1998 and was then back on the podium in Rotterdam two years later after helping Les Bleus to a thrilling victory in the final of UEFA EURO 2000™ against Italy. The World Cup finalists square off again in Zurich on Tuesday each needing victory to keep alive their slender hopes of progress at these finals, and Desailly is not surprised the heavyweights have found life difficult in Switzerland.
 
'Interesting tournament'
"I think the European Championship is more difficult [than the World Cup] from the group stage onwards," the 39-year-old former Olympique de Marseille, AC Milan and Chelsea FC player told euro2008.com. "To reach the quarter-finals is not always that simple. There are only good teams in this tournament and the concentration of high-quality teams is usually greater compared to the World Cup. This is a very interesting tournament both from a tactical and a technical point of view."
 
High standard
Italy and France are level on one point after two games, one less than Romania who play the Netherlands, the Group C winners, in Berne. "The standard is extremely high, especially in this group," Desailly's former Chelsea team-mate Roberto Di Matteo added. "I don't think France and Italy have been disappointing. They faced a great Netherlands side and Romania are also a very difficult team to beat. I think several teams would be happy to see potential winners such as France and Italy out of the tournament so early."
 
Romania impress
Desailly believes that Romania are well placed to deny France and Italy a quarter-final berth, explaining: "Italy have been a bit unlucky in their first two games. The French were a bit short of enthusiasm. I hope they get back to their usual selves, as both are very solid and competitive teams. Even if they don't make it to the next round, I hope France can end their campaign on a high with victory against Italy. I wouldn't be very surprised if Romania and the Netherlands go through because they have both played very well in qualifying and have also done very well here so far."
 
'Respect'
Defences dominated at the World Cup in Germany, but it is a different story here with the goals flying in in a series of exciting, attacking matches. Both Italy and France have conceded four goals in two games and Desailly and Di Matteo, who are both working as a McDonald's ambassadors during the tournament, predict it will be the strikers that make the difference again on Tuesday. "I think the outcome will be decided by both side's forward lines," the Frenchman said. "There is a lot of respect between the two teams and they know each other well, but I still think it will be the attack that makes the difference if any."
 
Attacking approach
Di Matteo, the 38-year-old former Italy international, added: "I don't think it will be a game with many goals as neither side wants to lose and the points at stake are extremely important. It will be a hard-fought game and I believe Italy will need to be very brave to win. Donadoni has several good attackers in the squad and will select the ones he considers to be in the best shape, but I think the approach must be an attacking one."