[Azzurri] Summer of preperation

Italy will play friendlies against Northern Ireland and New Zealand to prepare for this summer's FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa.

The World champions will host the Irish in Pisa on June 6 before travelling to South Africa to acclimatise with a friendly against fellow participants New Zealand on June 10.

Italy begin the Confederations Cup tournament against the United States of America in Pretoria on June 15.

After the opening Group B game against the Gold Cup holders, the Azzurri will play Africa Cup of Nations winners Egypt in Johannesburg on June 18 and finish the group stage with a mouthwatering clash against Copa America winners and five-time World champions Brazil back in Pretoria three days later.

Group A consists of hosts South Africa, Euro 2008 winners Spain and Iraq and New Zealand, the champions of Asia and Oceania respectively.

The intercontinental tournament, scheduled for June 14-28, should provide a tantalising appetiser ahead of world football's main course - the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals.

[FIFA Confederations Cup 2009]

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has stated he will use the pre-tournament friendlies and the tournament itself to experiment and integrate fresh new faces into the squad and prepare his side for the remaining four World Cup Group 8 qualifiers in September and October.

The Azzurri, who sit two points clear of the Republic of Ireland, are next in qualifying action when they travel to Georgia on September 5 and host Bulgaria four days later.

Ahead of that double header, Italy will kick off the new season with a friendly test against Switzerland in Basel on August 12. They conclude qualifying by visiting Ireland on Ocotber 10 and welcoming Cyprus four days later.


[Italy Calendar]
Last Updated: Thursday 22 October 2009

06-06-2009: F - Italy v Northern Ireland (Pisa)
10-06-2009: F - Italy v New Zealand (Atteridgeville, South Africa)

15-06-2009: CC - USA v Italy (Pretoria, South Africa)
18-06-2009: CC - Egypt v Italy (Johannesburg, South Africa)
21-06-2009: CC - Italy v Brazil (Pretoria, South Africa)

12-08-2009: F - Switzerland v Italy (Basel)

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

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

14-11-2009: F - Italy v Netherlands (Pescara)
18-11-2009: F - Italy v Sweden (Cesena)

* The date, fixtures and venues listed above are subject to change. Further friendly matches for 2009 will be announced in due course.

Source: FIGC