Lippi: “We can win World Cup again”

Marcello Lippi claims the Confederations Cup was “just a bad month” that has not affected his Italy choices. “The Confederations Cup was a month out of our three years of work that we did badly,” said the Coach. “We know that, but I think we started out the new season with a new spirit and sense of enthusiasm. Tonight’s 0-0 draw with Switzerland in Basel saw Claudio Marchisio and Domenico Criscito make their debut, taking the total number of debutants under Lippi’s reign to 38.

“We made some changes because they were planned, not because of the Confederations Cup. “We played some very interesting figures and passed the ball around well, had our chances then paradoxically risked losing it at the end. “These players are here and will play again in the future, certainly.” Lippi caused controversy when he said Italy had a “one in a million chance” of winning back-to-back World Cups in South Africa. “I think we have a definite chance of lifting the World Cup again. What I said was that if we have a one in a million chance of winning the trophy, then it’s through playing certain champions from 2006.”