Brazil announce Italy friendly

The Brazilian Football Federation have confirmed that the five-time World champions will face the reigning World champions and four-time winners Italy in a friendly early next year.

The two superpowers of international football have agreed to meet on February 11, 2009 to use as vital preparation for their respective 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification campaigns.

The venue is yet to be decided, but it is likely to be held in England with either Wembley Stadium or Arsenal's Emirates Stadium the favourite to host the match.

Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi will be back at the helm for this repeat of the 1994 World Cup Final, which Brazil sneaked on penalties.

Lippi will begin his second stint in charge with a friendly against Austria in France on August 20, before the World Cup Group 8 qualification games get underway with a visit to Cyprus on September 9 before the home match against Georgia in Udine four days later.

There's another double bill of qualification matches against Bulgaria and Montenegro to come in October before November's friendly with Greece and next February's prestigious friendly against the Brazilians and the second part of the qualifying campaign.

The two nations, along with World Cup 2010 hosts South Africa and five other continental champions, will also be competing in next summer's FIFA Confederations Cup.

Italy Calendar

20-08-2008: F - Italy v Austria (Nice, France)

06-09-2008: WCQ - Cyprus v Italy (Larnaca)
10-09-2008: WCQ - Italy v Georgia (Udine)

11-10-2008: WCQ - Bulgaria v Italy (Sofia)
15-10-2008: WCQ - Italy v Montenegro (Lecce)

19-11-2008: F - Greece v Italy (Athens - TBC)

11-02-2009: F - Italy v Brazil (London, England - TBC)

28-03-2009: WCQ - Montenegro v Italy (Podgorica)
01-04-2009: WCQ - Italy v Republic of Ireland (TBA)

14 to 28-06-2009: FIFA Confederations Cup (in South Africa)

05-09-2009: WCQ - Georgia v Italy (Tbilisi)
09-09-2009: WCQ - Italy v Bulgaria (TBA)

10-10-2009: WCQ - Republic of Ireland v Italy (Dublin)
14-10-2009: WCQ - Italy v Cyprus (TBA)

* The dates, fixtures and venues listed above are subject to change. Further friendly matches for 2009 will be announced at a later date.