Euro 2012 qualifying preview: Italy v Slovenia

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has warned his side against taking teams lightly ahead of their Euro 2012 qualifier against Slovenia on Tuesday.

Prandelli’s men were lucky to escape with a 1-0 victory over the Faroe Islands in Torshavn on Friday, with an early goal from Antonio Cassano enough to clinch the win despite the minnows twice rattling the woodwork.

Italy are eight points clear on top of Group C with three games to play, meaning a win in Florence on Tuesday would secure them a place in the Euro 2012 finals, but Prandelli said his team would have to apply themselves more than they did against the Faroe Islands.

“We are not a solid team and have to work on this,” Prandelli said.

“I didn’t sleep much last night. I watched the game back, but we don’t have to start everything from scratch. Some performances can help a team realise its limitations.”

“We got into the box six times and kept exchanging passes in there. When you are in the right position, you’ve got to shoot. In the penalty area you go for goal and not (try) to walk it into the net.”

“On Tuesday I will make few changes against Slovenia, so the line-up will be similar to the one seen in the Faroe Islands.”

Slovenia will certainly be motivated for the clash, being one of four teams in Group C still vying for second place, which would see them enter the playoffs.

Slovenia are second in the group, level on 11 points with Serbia, although the Serbs have a game in hand, with Estonia fourth on 10 points and Northern Ireland still in contention on nine.

In their last match, Slovenia slumped to a 2-1 home loss to Estonia on Friday, their first loss against Estonia in seven meetings, and coach Matjaz Kek will be hopeful his side can respond in the best possible way in Florence.