ROME. Nov 10: Although forced to do without his top forward. Italy coach Cesare Maldini opted not to add any new attackers in

naming players Monday for the team's all-important World Cup playoff match against Russia, reports AP.

It's been 40 years since Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup finals, and Maldinl's wH^rqain^ q#.ve no irpublf finding motivation Mead* of Saturday s game at Naples.

But finding the net could be a problem in the second leg of the playoff to determine which country will go to France 98.

Christian Vieri. who scored in the 1-1 first leg Oct 29 at Moscow, is unavailable after aggravating a left thigh injury during a match Sunday with his club. Atletico Madrid. He's expected to be out of action at least 10 days, and possibly as long as a month.

In addition, forward Pierluigi Casiraghi hurt his left knee Sunday in his club's game, but was called up anyway.

The loss of the 24-year old Vieri. who tops Spain's First Division with eight goals, is a big blow.

Rather than turning to a veteran for added firepower — a Roberto Baggio or Roberto Mancini, for example — Maldini decided to stick with the group of strikers that he's used since taking the coaching reins in December.

While Casiraghi would be Vieri's natural replacement, Maldini could also turn to Fabrizio Ravanelli, who plays for French club Olympique Marseille and started alongside Vieri against Russia last month.

Other forwards named to the

22-man roster Include Alessandro Del Piero, formerly a teammate of Ravanelli's at Juventus. Chelsea's Gianfranco Zola and Parma's Enrico Chiesa.

Juventus striker Filippo, Inzaghi. a surprise starter against England but ineffective-in that game and subsequently, was left of the team for the second straight time.

Baggio (second in Serie A with seven goals) was Italy's hero in 1994 but a series of injuries since has slowed him. and — despite the team's c£n* sive woes — Maldini could not find a place for the playmaker.

At midfield. Maldini will likely use the core of Demetrio Albertini (Milan). Dino Baggio (Parma) and Roberto Di Matteo (a teammate of Zola's a, Chelsea). With Angelo Di Livio still injured. Maldihl brought back Antonio Conte.

There are four foreign-based players including Ravanelli. Zola and Roberto Di Matteo. Winger Attilio Lombardo plays for Crystal Palace in England's Premier League.

SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Angelo Peruzzi. Gianluigi Buffon.

Defenders: Fabio Can-navaro. Alessandro Costacurta. Ciro Ferrara. Paolo Maldini. Alessandro Nesta. Gianluca Pessotto. Luigi Sartor.

Midfielders: Demetrio Albertini. Dino Baggio. Sandro Cols. Antonio Conte. Luigi DI Biagio. Roberto Di Matteo, Diego Fuser. Attilio Lombardo.

forwards: Pierluigi Casiraghi. Enrico Chiesa . Alessandro Del Piero. Fabrizio Ravanelli. Gianfranco Zola.