Mauri has faith in battling Italy

Lazio’s Stefano Mauri believes Italy still have enough talent to succeed on the international stage ahead of their match against Slovenia.

Italy, who saw their FIFA World Cup defence end at the group stage in South Africa last year, are widely considered to be a declining force.And coach Cesare Prandelli has been criticised for constructing a functional team lacking the capacity to entertain. But midfielder Mauri insists the team are still equipped to secure qualification to the 2012 Euro Championships.”Little skill in this team? There’s enough to achieve our objectives, even if there might be less now than in the past,” Mauri said.The selection of Mauri for the match in Celje on Saturday has drawn criticism in some quarters. Ageing veterans Alessandro del Piero of Juventus and Roma’s Francesco Totti have both been touted as alternative playmakers. But Prandelli has decided to offer a rare opportunity for the 31-year-old Mauri – who has earned only 10 caps since making his debut in 2004 – to pull the strings at international level.”Prandelli said that if this had been a decider he would have called Del Piero and Totti,” Mauri said.”I see this game as an incentive for the players that are here in the squad, so they go a step further for the team.””What does the coach want from me? I have to be the link between midfield and the attack, providing depth, I like varying my game, getting into spaces, and facing the goal all the time.” “And we mustn’t forget that winning in Slovenia would mean that we have a good chance of getting through the group.”Italy top Group C with 10 points, three ahead of second-placed Slovenia.