Donadoni expects Dutch favour

Roberto Donadoni expects Holland to beat Romania and give the Azzurri a chance to advance to the next round of Euro 2008.

With Holland having thrashed Italy and France, Marco van Basten's team have already sealed first place in Group C and the coach is likely to rest players against second-placed Romania.

And Donadoni said: "Trying to put myself in the boots of Dutch players, if I was one of the Dutch players on the bench and asked to lose against Romania, I would feel humiliated. Why would I play badly? That would be humiliating compared to the way the first squad has been playing."

Donadoni, who revealed he has not spoken to his former AC Milan team-mate and good friend Van Basten, does not expect a repeat of Euro 2004 when Italy beat Bulgaria in their final group game in Portugal only for a draw between Denmark and Sweden to see the Scandinavian sides through to the quarter-finals.

"We are not focused on packing to go home," said Donadoni.

"We are not masters of our own destiny, that is a fact, but we must not focus on it.

"The rivalry between Italy and France has intensified in recent years. France beat the Italians on penalties in the Euro 2000 final and the Azzurri won in the same way two years ago at the World Cup in Germany.

"I think it's a football game between two squads that have the same goal - winning," said Donadoni. "For us there is no difference, it's another team we have to play against.

"It doesn't matter if they are wearing a France, Romania or a Holland jersey, just another game, no more, no less."