SENDAI (Japan), June 1: Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni is hoping God might lend a hand at the World Cup.

Trapattoni, whose sister is a nun, attended a special mass with Italy players and officials at the team’s hotel on Saturday.

“The Lord has many other things to deal with but I pray that he looks over us as well,” said the Italy coach whose side face Ecuador in their opening group G match on Monday.

A local priest, Takanohashi Tatsuo, carried out the service which was attended by goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and midfielder Damiano Tommasi.

“There is nothing new about this, we are a Catholic group,” said Trapattoni. Italy also play Croatia and Mexico.—Reuters