England Head Coach Sven Goran Eriksson believes Marcello Lippi’s Azzurri team, with their vast striking options, are one of the real threat’s at this summer’s World Cup Finals.

Although the Azzurri have a reputation of progressing well in tournaments, mostly thanks to their defensive abilities, Eriksson feels Italy could prove to be more dangerous if they had a more attacking approach, and with the fire-power to hand Marcello Lippi’s side could prove to be highly successful in Germany.

“Italy are one of the favourites,” said the England boss James Richardson in an interview for Bravo’s Gazzetta Football Italia programme.

“They have a good team with some very good strikers, like Luca Toni who is having a fantastic season.

“If Italy get it right, and I think they will get it right, you never know what could happen.”

Eriksson is also a great fan of Italy Coach Marcello Lippi, and is sure that the Italian national side have the right man at the head of the Azzurri team.

“He is a very good Coach,” he added. “His record says it all. He is confident, and he should be.”

Eriksson, who managed both Roma and Lazio and knows Lippi well, knows that, in addition to Luca Toni, with the strike-force of Christian Vieri, Alessandro del Piero, Filippo Inzaghi, and Roma’s Francesco Totti – who should be fit for the Finals – that everyone has reason to be wary of the Italian threat.

Eriksson, although leaving the post as England manager after the World Cup Finals, is totally focused on England’s challenge in Germany, and insists the announcement of his departure after the World Cup won’t affect him.

“Now we have a big aim – we’ve qualified for the World Cup,” continued the Swede.

“I couldn’t care less about what happens after the World Cup. The dream for all of us is to win the trophy and what happens after that, no one is really thinking about.”

Italy have been drawn in Group E alongside Ghana, the U.S.A and the Czech Republic in the Finals in Germany,

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