Player Watch

Currently the joint top scorer with three goals in two games, Vieri is on course to repeat his feat last season with Atletico Madrid in Spain, where he finished as the Liga8217;s top marksman. quot;I8217;m a striker and scoring goals is my job,quot; he said bluntly at the Italian training base here. quot;They massacred us in the Press after we drew 2-2 with Chile, but this team is ready, and we8217;re only going to get better.quot;

Vieri is inevitably being compared to Italian World Cup strikers of the past, like Gigi Riva and Paolo Rossi, though it8217;s not something he relishes.quot;The only thing I8217;ve got in common with Riva is a left foot,quot; he quipped. quot;There will neverbe anyone like Riva again, he will always be on another planet. The only other thing we might have in common is that we8217;re both the silent type,quot; he said.

However, he has the full backing of 1982 World Cup winning hero Rossi, who said: quot;Vieri is good, and with an Italy team like this one he should score more.quot;