Thirty-six years ago in Mexico, Alessandro "Sandro" Mazzola and Gianni "Gigi" Riva tussled for a place on the pitch in a similar manner to playmakers Francesco Totti and Alessandro Del Piero today.

Mazzola and Riva's rivalry in the 1960s as players for Milan's two clubs, Inter and AC Milan respectively, spilled over into the national side.

Italy's coaches could not figure out how to field the two brilliant midfielders in the same team.

They ended up playing in a relay, the "staffetta", in each match during the 1970 World Cup, when Italy eventually lost 4-1 to Brazil in a final that is often hailed as the best ever.

Today, Roma's Totti and Juventus's Del Piero have both appeared on the field in Germany in each of Italy's matches, but never simultaneously. And the Azzurri may face Brazil as soon as the next round.

Now in their sixties, the grey and white-haired veterans' demeanour mirrors their contrasting styles on the field decades ago.

The dapper, bespectacled Riva is the general manager of the Squadra Azzurra, while Mazzola, who sports a light blue 'Scotland' cap and casual shirt, is a television pundit.

"I went to see a match with Scotland and I liked the cap. That was about three years ago," the cigar-chomping 64 year-old explained.

On the sidelines of training at the Italian base in Duisburg Monday, Mazzola dismissed suggestions that the much-criticised squad should start over again following their incident-packed 1-1 draw with the United States

"It went badly in the second game, they didn't play well. But the group that has been formed over the last two years plays good football," said Mazzola.

"Let's say it was a passing incident. I think they'll already start to play well again against the Czech Republic," he added.

Nearby, Riva paced around the field, his progress constantly interrupted by radio and TV reporters seeking the opinions of the former "Golden Boy" of Italian football on his embattled squad.

"Brazil are always the strongest of all, because they just have to enjoy listening to those who say they're the best, while the other teams who hope to be first say that it depends on the Brazilians," Riva, 63, commented amiably.

When Totti admitted a few weeks ago to being 70 percent fit following a broken ankle he suffered in February, the older Del Piero responded that he was 100 percent fit.

"I don't think there's any team in the World Cup, expect maybe Brazil, that plays two pointmen with two playmakers. There is Brazil, but that's another matter, another world," Mazzola observed.

"It's very difficult to do so, you need a lot of training session and there's no time here."

Both veterans insisted the atmosphere at the Italian camp was peaceful -- "sereno".

"The atmosphere is serene -- at least, while they draw instead of win. But that's football," Mazzola smiled.