Defending champions Italy put their injury concerns to one side to carve out a 0-0 draw against Bulgaria to stay on course for the 2010 World Cup finals on Saturday.
The point gave Marcelo Lippi’s team seven points from their three games in Group Eight following a 2-1 win in Cyprus and a 2-0 victory against Georgia and put them in good heart ahead of their home clash with Montenegro in Lecce on Wednesday.
Missing first choice players like goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who has been ruled out for a month with a back problem, and Juventus teammate, midfielder Mauro Camoranesi, who has a thigh injury, Lippi was forced to reshuffle.
Marco Amelia started in goal while Andrea Dossena, Ricardo Montolivo and Simone Pepe were all handed rare starts.
There were few scoring chances in a dour match.
Bulgaria, who had one point from their one game so far, pressed in the opening period but veteran Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro organised the back line well.
In fact, Amelia didn’t have a save to make until the 88th minute of the match.
Italy showed a little more attacking initiative after the break with a 66th-minute freekick by Udinese’s Antonio Di Natale saved by the Bulgarian keeper.
Two fierce drives by Roma’s Daniele de Rossi in the last 10 minutes were both off target.
