Abete realises Italian football faces a difficult time

Italy play Scotland in a crucial Euro 2008 qualifier on Saturday just days after a policeman shot dead a Lazio fan which resulted in violent clashes.

Abete said: "This is an important week for Italian football. But the national team has the support of the nation.

"Saturday's encounter is a difficult game but the team is preparing well."

Italy lifted the World Cup in 2006, despite the fallout from a match-fixing scandal in their top flight league.

606: DEBATE Give your views on the Scotland v Italy match

And Abete hopes the Azzurri can again achieve on the pitch, as much of Italy is still trying to come to terms with events off it.

The death of 26-year-old supporter Gabriele Sandri, killed accidentally by a policeman at a motorway service station near the Tuscan city of Arezzo on Sunday, led to violence between fans and police across the country.

And nine months ago policeman Filippo Raciti died during rioting at a Serie A match between Catania and Palermo.

The latest tragedy has led to this weekend's domestic fixtures being postponed.

The Italy team have taken refuge at the Coverciano training camp in Florence - their base during the match-fixing scandal ahead of last year's World Cup.

Italy is losing credibility AC Milan's Brazilian star Kaka

And captain Fabio Cannavaro believes it will hold the players in good stead.

He said: "We have faced situations like this before here at Coverciano and come through."

Italy has suffered a series of unsavoury events in recent history and Brazilian striker Kaka, who plays for AC Milan, believes it may put the top players off moving to Serie A.

He said: "First there was Calciopoli (the match-fixing scandal), then the police officer who was killed and now another tragedy.

"A fan who was killed while he was on his way to see a match and these are all blows that hurt the football world.

"The stars all want to play in top teams and in Italy you have some of the most prestigious clubs in the world.

"These acts of violence risk keeping the star players and champions away from playing in Serie A.

"Italy is losing credibility."

If Scotland draw, then their hopes rest on Ukraine doing them a favour by beating France in the final set of group matches on 21 November.