Maldini hoping to equal record

Influential Italy captain Paolo Maldini remained on course to equal a World Cup record after overcoming an injury scare.

With 10 minutes remaining of his squad’s hour-long training session yesterday at the Kashima Stadium in Ibaraki, Maldini fell innocuously, twisting his ankle.

Despite extensive treatment on the sidelines, and again in the dressing room, the world’s best left back was rated as only ‘‘slightly more than 50%’’ by official team doctor Andrea Ferretti.

The fact there was no swelling ensured Maldini, who will equal Germany star Lothar Matthaus’ record of 25 World Cup appearances if he plays in every game this tournament up to and including the final or third-place play-off, was fit to lead out his team-mates.

Coach Giovanni Trapattoni sprung one surprise by dropping Luigi di Biagio, bringing Cristiano Zanetti into the heart of the midfield.

Trapattoni also resisted the urge to recall fit-again Filippo Inzaghi to the side, as had been expected with the AC Milan striker having shaken off a knee injury which forced him to miss the opening 2-0 Group G victory over Ecuador.

It meant Christian Vieri and Francesco Totti remained up front, instead of the latter being asked to play behind a front two if Inzaghi had been selected.

Croatia coach Mirko Jozic, as promised and with his side needing a victory to ignite their campaign after a lacklustre performance in losing 1-0 to Mexico, made a number of changes.

Out went two of the squad’s key players over the years in former Arsenal and West Ham striker Davor Suker, now at Munich 1860, and Portsmouth’s Robert Prosinecki as Jozic looked for a psychological cutting edge.

It led to Middlesbrough’s Alen Boksic being asked to plough a lone furrow up front, with Jozic playing five at the back in a clear attempt to take a point from the game.

One enforced change saw Daniel Saric step in for the suspended Boris Zivkovic, who was sent off against Mexico.