Italy, Lippi: Trap is a point of reference

Italy coach Marcello Lippi will face the man who has been “a point of reference for his generation” as the Azzurri look to beat Giovanni Trapattoni’s Republic of Ireland in Bari on Wednesday to take a five-point lead in Fifa World Cup qualifying Group 8.

“He is absolutely the man with the biggest experience in Italian sport, a point of reference for coaches of my generation,” said Lippi of the trainer who preceded him on the bench at Juventus, FC Internazionale Milano and Italy. “I’m very pleased to see him working with this kind of enthusiasm. I hope to be like that in ten years when I’m 70. I hope to have the same motivation and enthusiasm as Trap”, Uefa.com reported.