Soccer-Donadoni hits out at Italian media

ROME, March 26 (Reuters) - Italy coach Roberto Donadoni has hit out what he calls a media campaign to stir up trouble ahead of their Euro 2008 qualifier with Scotland on Wednesday.

The world champions lie fourth in Group B, five points behind Scotland and France, and two behind Ukraine, and are under intense pressure to beat Scotland to stay in contention for one of the two automatic qualifying places.

The build-up to the match in Bari has been overshadowed by speculation that Donadoni's job is under threat and claims that he has poor relationships with several players in the squad.

"In these past few days there have been so many lies written and said that they would fill an entire encyclopaedia," Donadoni was quoted as saying on La Gazzetta dello Sport's Web site (www.gazzetta.it) on Monday.

"Show some respect for us, because I don't like these games...I don't understand why people start holding trials before anything actually happens."

Last week, the head of the Italian Football Federation, Luca Pancalli, publicly endorsed Donadoni, saying he had the "total faith" of his organisation.

That has not stopped newspapers presenting the game as make-or-break for the former AC Milan and Italy midfielder.

"Donadoni condemned to beating Scotland" ran the headline on the front of Monday's Corriere dello Sport.

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro backed up Donadoni, recalling how former coach Marcello Lippi had come under attack before leading Italy to triumph at the World Cup in Germany last year.