Italy looking to extend lead in Slovenia

Italy travels to Slovenia for a 2012 European Championship qualifier Friday with the knowledge that a victory could open up a six-point lead in its group.

However, the Azzurri have not forgotten past troubles in Slovenia, where Italy lost its only qualifier before winning the 2006 World Cup.

Italy leads Group C with 10 points from four matches, three ahead of Slovenia and four in front of Estonia.

Gaining complete control of the group would be another step in Italy's process of renewal after last year's humiliating first-round elimination from the World Cup.

''I remember how after the World Cup people were saying we would have trouble qualifying for the Euros,'' said goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who is preparing to play his first qualifier since missing most of the World Cup due to a back problem.

''Now we can virtually close the deal in Ljubljana. But let's not forget that Slovenia's football is on the rise, and that in our golden years before the (2006) World Cup they were the only team that beat us in an official match.''

Slovenia was the smallest nation at the World Cup and nearly made it to the second round before a 1-0 loss to England, having beat Algeria and built a 2-0 lead on the United States before giving up two second-half goals for a 2-2 draw.

Three Slovenia players - Sinisa Andelkovic, Josip Ilicic and Armin Bacinovic - play for Palermo in Serie A and are keen on returning to Sicily with bragging rights.

The Italians are most concerned about Ilicic, a talented attacking midfielder who has scored eight goals for Palermo between Serie A and the Italian Cup.

''I want to return to Palermo with a smile after beating the Italians - the same smile from when we beat (AC Milan),'' Ilicic said, referring to Palermo's 1-0 win over the Serie A leader last weekend. ''We're seeking all three points. The game will be decided by small details, and I hope the luck will be on our side.''

Italy will be without key midfielder Daniele De Rossi and forward Mario Balotelli, who have been left off the squad for violating coach Cesare Prandelli's code of conduct.

De Rossi was banned for three AS Roma games by UEFA for elbowing Shakhtar Donetsk captain Dario Srna in the face during a Champions League match earlier this month, and Balotelli was sent off during a Europa League match with Manchester City last week for a studs-first lunge at Dynamo Kiev defender Goran Popov.

When he replaced Marcello Lippi after the World Cup, Prandelli instituted new rules whereby national team players are expected to meet high behavioral standards even with their clubs.

De Rossi's absence could be felt the most, since fellow midfielder Andrea Pirlo is also out, with a right knee injury.

''Even without De Rossi our midfield is up to the task, with several players with different characteristics,'' said Lazio midfielder Stefano Mauri, who will likely occupy the playmaker position behind forwards Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini, who played together at Sampdoria before transferring in January - Cassano to Milan and Pazzini to Inter.

''It's going to be an important match, even though it's not decisive,'' Mauri added.

In Prandelli's preferred 4-3-1-2 lineup, the midfield line will likely be composed of Alberto Aquilani, Thiago Motta and Riccardo Montolivo.

With Inter's Andrea Ranocchia ruled out with a knee injury, Leonardo Bonucci should pair with Giorgio Chiellini at center back, with Christian Maggio and Federico Balzaretti - a teammate of the Slovenian trio at Palermo - at fullback.

''Saying that Italy isn't what it once was doesn't have any sense, because we're talking about a football superpower,'' said Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek. ''I'm confident and I see the match as a challenge. We've got to be aggressive and play our game, thinking about scoring all the time.''

Security will be tight for the match at the SRC Stozice stadium in Ljubljana, with Italy's last qualifier against Serbia in October abandoned due to fan violence.

Ljubljana is located just across the Italy border, and police have already stepped up road checks for unruly fans.