(ANSA) - Carnago, November 14 - Italy coach Gian Piero
Ventura on Monday called for an early start to the next Serie A
season to help ensure his players are match fit for a key World
Cup qualifier against Spain in September.
Ventura said it would be in the "national interest" for
there to be three rounds of Serie A fixtures before the match in
Spain on September 2, 2017.
Italy have 10 points in from four games in European
qualifying Group G after thumping Liechtenstein 4-0 on Saturday,
the same tally as Spain, who are ahead on goal difference.
The September match may determine who qualifies directly
for the 2018 World Cup in Russia as group winner.
The second-placed nation is set to face a playoff - unless
it is the European runner-up with the worse record.
"Everyone (else) starts on August 13," Ventura told
reporters before Tuesday's friendly world champions Germany in
Milan.
"It's in the national interest to play on level terms. A
request for at least two sets of league fixtures (before the
qualifier) has already been made.
"In a moment of madness I asked for three, but they told
me to get myself taken into hospital".
Soccer: Ventura wants early Serie A start in view of Spain
Italy coach wants three rounds of fixtures before crunch match