Lippi focused as Azzurri march on

ITALY boss Marcello Lippi is targeting a four-point advantage when his side arrive in Dublin on October 10.

Two own goals from captain Kakha Kaladze gifted the World Cup champions victory over a toothless Georgia in Tbilisi on Saturday to keep the visitors out in front in World Cup qualifying Group Eight table.

And now Lippi, who welcomed a fortuitous win against the Georgians, is targeting a win in Turin on Wednesday.

“In the first half, we suffered from their liveliness and thought mostly about our defensive duties,” said Lippi. “In the second half we were dangerous more than once near their goal. Now let’s manage our strengths and think about winning on Wednesday.

“We mustn’t think we have qualification in the bag. Only if we beat Bulgaria we will be able to go to Ireland with a four-point advantage.”

On Kaladze’s two own goals, the World Cup-winning coach said: “As a former central defender, I’m very sad for him, and it wasn’t nice that he was whistled at the end.”

The AC Milan defender headed the ball into his own net in the 57th minute from Angelo Palombo’s stinging drive from distance. He then fired past his own keeper 10 minutes later, much to the horror of the home fans.

The 2-0 win leaves the world champions top with 17 points from seven games.

Meanwhile, Bulgaria’s 4-1 home win over Montenegro kept them in with an outside chance of troubling the top two.

They had to come from a goal down after Steven Jovetic put Montenegro in front in the ninth minute.

It stayed 1-0 until Radostin Kishishev equalised on the stroke of half-time – and although Dimitar Telkiyski put Bulgaria in front four minutes after the break, it was only an 85th-minute Dimitar Berbatov penalty and an injury-time goal from Valeri Domovchiyski which eased their worries.