Maldini preaches cautious attacking

 ROME (AP) -- Italy won't gamble on an all-out attack as it chases a win victory against England that would secure an automatic berth in next year's World Cup finals, coach Cesare Maldini said Tuesday.
 "We won't make the error of throwing ourselves recklessly on the attack," Maldini said. "We'll have to move with prudence, dictate the action and then be ready to make tactical changes if we see that it's necessary. . . . The truth is that it will be a game that must be played with intelligence, because if we go on the attack in a chaotic manner, we'll allow goals."
 That's because, Maldini noted, England is no longer the cautious side that lost 1-0 to Italy on Feb. 12 at Wembley on his official debut as coach.
 "The English are better. They play more attentively, they've grown tactically," he said.
 Maldini doesn't expect England to play for the draw it needs to assure qualification for next summer's World Cup finals in France. Italy must win, or face a playoff.
 "The English always play (to win) the game," he said. "It's their mentality. We'll respect them like we do everyone, but we certainly won't be afraid."
 Maldini refused to tip his hand regarding a lineup for the Group 2 match Saturday at Rome's Olympic Stadium, but said he wouldn't follow English counterpart Glenn Hoddle's lead and wait until the last minute to tell his players.
 "I'm not a coach from the old school, who tells (his players) the lineup at the last minute," Maldini said at Coverciano, outside Florence, before conducting the team's first practice of the week. "Many important young (coaches) do it, but I don't."
 While Maldini has stuck with the same core of players since taking the helm in December, his strike force is up for grabs going into the must-win match.
 Chelsea's Gianfranco Zola and Atletico Madrid's Christian Vieri are the likely pair, but Maldini didn't rule out having a third player lend support from a position slightly behind the strikers.
 Maldini said there are no injury problems other than Ciro Ferrara's hamstring strain. The veteran defender, ideally a starter at centre-back, skipped practice Tuesday and will be re-examined by the national team doctor today.