Alessandro Del Piero wants Italy to show "fight" in Sweden clash and says World Cup without Azzurri is unimaginable

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  • Del Piero speaking to media in Moscow ahead of the World Cup matchball launch

    Iconic former Italy striker Alessandro Del Piero has called for the Azzurri to show fight and seal their 2018 World Cup qualification with victory over Sweden.

    Gian Piero Ventura’s side travel to Stockholm on Friday in the first of a challenging two-legged tie against the Swedes.

    The Italians finished second behind Spain in qualifying for Russia and there is a danger they could fail to make a World Cup for the first time since 1958 after being handed the nightmare tie.

    And Del Piero, who guided his country to World Cup success in 2006, says it is a terrifying prospect to imagine a tournament without the Azzurri.

    “It would be very bad, very bad. It is unimaginable to think of a World Cup without Italy,” said the 43-year-old in Moscow ahead of the launch of the new adidas World Cup matchball.

    “For us, the World Cup is one of the most important things and for all of football it’s important to have Italy in Russia.

    “We are a country where football is a first love. You can’t imagine us not being there.

    “But we want to give all our energy to the guys because we have a great team.

    “In the group stage, we had Spain – what to do?

    “If you lose one game you’re struggling qualify so now we need to fight better than we have before.”

    Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura (L) and Marco Verratti chat during training

    Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura (L) and Marco Verratti chat during training

    History is in the Italians favour. The four-time world champions are unbeaten in their last five clashes with Sweden, winning four and drawing the other.

    However, Ventura’s side have lacked their usual defensive solidity while goals have been hard to come by, too, having plundered just four times in their four fixtures.

    The former Torino boss was chastised for his gung-ho tactics in the 3-0 defeat to Spain in September and narrow 1-0 wins over Israel and Albania sandwiched between a 1-1 draw at home to Macedonia have done little to alleviate the pressure.

    Del Piero, though, is hopeful his fellow countrymen can rise to the occasion.

    “I hope for them that they can play with some calm and peace,” he added.

    “We are putting a lot of pressure on them for this tie and the guys no doubt are feeling that.

    “I hope they will be free mentally to go out there and play to the best of their ability.

    “If they can do that, they will qualify.”

    The first leg kicks off 10:45pm UAE with the return game in Milan’s San Siro on Monday.

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