Vieri backs Italy to reach semis of World Cup

Dubai: The world may have written defending champions Italy off, but former Azzurri striker Christian Vieri is confident Marcelo Lippi's men will make the semi-finals in South Africa.

Italy remained unbeaten in qualifying for the tournament and booked their spot as leaders in their group. At the World Cup, they have been drawn in Group F along with Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia. The group stage shouldn't be a problem, but the question doing the rounds across the globe is whether Lippi's ageing squad will be able to compete once they reach the knockout phase of the tournament.

Doubts began to surface after the Italians failed to get past the group stages of the last year's Confederations Cup in South Africa. However, Vieri says "Italy know how to prepare themselves for a major tournament" and they'll be there with their best in a few months' time.

"Italy are not looking so good, yes! But after the leagues end, the national team players will have about a month together to get their game and their energy back and I think they're going to bounce back. Italy are always good in the World Cup — they know how to prepare themselves," said Vieri, 36, who turned out for AC Milan legends in last week's Emirates Airline Dubai Football Sevens.

"I think England, Spain and Brazil will get to the semi-finals and the fourth team could be Italy. I hope so. I think those will be the four names playing in the last-four stage."

Vieri, who scored 23 times in 49 matches for the Azzurri, was more of an Inter Milan player and his eight matches for Milan are almost insignificant in the light of the 144 games in which he turned out for the Nerazzurri. Of his time in Milan, Vieri said: "Milan is a very big city and these are two very big sides and together they've probably won the most trophies in the world so it's good to play for them.