Italy coach Roberto Donadoni says Italy is back on track in its Euro 2008 bid after two wins out of two against Ukraine and Georgia .
"We've now got the cards in our hands to make a play of it," Donadoni said after a 1-3 win in Tbilisi put Italy two points behind group pace-setters France and Scotland .
Italy can now look forward to the resumption of play in March with fresh confidence, the coach said. It will have a chance to get into the qualifying zone - only two go through - when it meets Scotland on March 28. "We're back close to the spirit that won the World Cup," said Donadoni, who took over from Marcello Lippi this summer .
In its bid to qualify for the 2008 tournament in Switzerland and Austria, Italy struggled early on with only one point gained from a home draw with Lithuania and a 3-1 defeat in Paris .
Some pundits attributed the poor form to a World Cup hangover and the absence of many of the Germany heroes .
With most of them back playing near their best, Donadoni has had no hesitation in abandoning failed experiments .
But he made it clear that he still wanted to forge a team that was recognisably different from Lippi's .
The 43-year-old ex-Livorno coach said the side was now closer to the one he had in his head - "but I can't give you any percentages" .
He acknowledged that Italy's task was also easier than it had looked because of the strength of the group .
Scotland, for instance, defeated France but then fell to Ukraine, making things so tight ahead of the spring re-start .
"Our group is finely balanced, which is an advantage," he said .
(photo: Daniele De Rossi, who opened the scoring against Georgia, holding aloft Simone Perrotta after he sealed the win)
