Asked how he felt the team were progressing on the second of those tasks, Nesta said: "We only have one task. If you win then the rest, being popular, will follow."

When an Argentine reporter asked a question about the scandal, Nesta snapped: "Is everything fine in your country? I think everyone needs to look after their own house."

ITALIAN OUTRAGE

There was outrage in Italian newspapers on Wednesday after German news weekly Der Spiegel published a satirical World Cup-related column on its Web site about the Azzurri entitled 'Oiled up and greasy' which referred to Italians as 'parasitical forms of life'.

The article was later withdrawn and an apology posted on the Web site but that didn't stop the daily La Stampa declaring - 'Italian parasites - that is how Der Spiegel prepares for the semi-final'.

Asked about the article, Nesta said: "They criticise us for how we are but then they want to dress and eat like us. There is a bit of envy".

Italy could face Germany in the semi-final if they beat Ukraine and the Germans get past Argentina in their quarter-final.