Donadoni to be sacked next week: Italian press

Italy coach Roberto Donadoni is going to be sacked and replaced by reigning World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi, the Italian press reported on Tuesday.

The fate of 44-year-old Donadoni will be decided early next week, Ansa news agency reported, following Italy’s elimination from the Euro 2008 quarter-finals by Spain, 4-2 on penalties after the match ended goalless.

Italian federation (FIGC) president Giancarlo Abete is expected to meet Donadoni on Monday June 30 or Tuesday July 1 in Rome.

Donadoni’s contract was extended until 2010 just before the June 7-29, 16-nation tournament co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland.

Italy’s 2006 World Cup victory in Germany, with Lippi at the helm, heralded the start of Donadoni’s stint in the post. Donadoni’s record reads 13 victories, five draws and five defeats, with 35 goals scored and 22 conceded.

Donadoni had said after defeat on Sunday: “Resign? The thought would never even entered my brain. I don’t have a reason. We only lost a game on penalties.

“You can’t say things work when you win but don’t work when you lose on penalties. We will talk and decide. It doesn’t make any sense to talk about whether I deserve to carry on.”

Italy’s next match is a friendly against Austria in Nice, France, on August 20.