Coach Cesare Maldini is wary of the Norwegians -- and not just because they beat Brazil on Tuesday to book their place in the last 16 and extend their unbeaten run to an impressive 19 matches. Maldini was coach of the under-21 side which lost 6-0 to the Scandinavians in an extraordinary match in Stavanger in 1991.

The defeat almost cost the Italy coach his job and still appears to weigh on his mind as he prepares his senior side for their do-or-die clash in Marseille's Stade Velodrome.

``Norway are a very good team indeed. They were one of the teams we predicted would get through the group stage,'' a solemn Maldini told reporters at Italy's training camp north of Paris. ``That's why I sent one of my assistants to see their game against Brazil.''

Maldini is not the only Italian to have suffered Norwegian nightmares.Mid-fielders DemetrioAlbertini and Dino Baggio were on the wrong end of that 6-0 defeat while goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca and veteran defender Giuseppe Bergomi have both seen red against Norway in matches they would probably rather forget. Pagliuca was sent off after just 21 minutes of their first round clash at the 1994 finals in the United States as Italy struggled to a vital 1-0 victory.

And Bergomi was sent off in Italy's 2-1 defeat in Oslo in the qualifiers for the 1992 European Championship. That loss ultimately cost the Italians a place in the tournament.

``Norway are very well organised and defend with 10 men. He haven't played anyone like them so far. We're more used to playing against a classic side with two forwards. We'll see how Maldini chooses to approach it.''