Di Biagio offered Italy job

Italy's under-21 coach Luigi Di Biagio has been asked to take temporary charge of the senior team until a full-time replacement is found, the Italian federation said on Friday.

Without a coach since their shock World Cup qualifying elimination in November, Italy take on both England and Argentina in friendlies in March.

"In the interim, Luigi Di Biagio will take over as national team coach, if he wants to," Italian federation official Alessandro Costacurta told reporters on Friday.

"For the moment Gigi can consider himself coach of the Under-21's and the interim boss of the senior side too," added the former Italy international who won five Champions League titles.