Italy striker Christian Vieri joined Monaco yesterday and said his goal was to win a place at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

"Going to the World Cup is an objective and in order to do that I need to play matches," Vieri told a news conference after signing an 18-month contract.

Vieri, joining from Milan, will be paired up front with fellow Italy striker Marco Di Vaio who agreed a loan move from Valencia last month.

The 32-year-old Vieri joined Milan from city rivals Inter last summer on a two-year deal but failed to win a regular place in the team.

He has scored only two goals this season, the last in a 3-1 win over Brescia in an Italian Cup match at the end of November.

"The most important thing for me is to play on a regular basis," he said.

"We expect a lot from him (Vieri)," said Monaco president Michel Pastor. "We're happy to have him and we hope he will help us reach our goal, which is to qualify for the Champions League."

Regarded for years as one of the world's most dangerous strikers, Vieri found himself third in the pecking order at Milan behind Andriy Shevchenko and Alberto Gilardino.

"Physically I have no problems at all," he said. "Of course, I need matches but I'm desperate to play and to prove myself."

At Monaco he will find plenty of Italia speakers with not only Di Vaio but also coach Francesco Guidolin, who took over from Didier Deschamps last October.

Monaco have a tradition of welcoming great strikers like George Weah, Juergen Klinsmann and, most recently, Fernando Morientes.

The team from the principality are hoping that Vieri and Di Vaio can do for them what Morientes did. After joining on loan from Real Madrid, the Spain striker, now with Liverpool, helped them go all the way to the 2004 Champions League final.

"I have plenty of experience and I can still score goals," Vieri said.

"I know what Monaco want from me and I'm ready for the challenge."