Marcello Lippi All But Confirms Italy World Cup Squad
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Marcello Lippi All But Confirms Italy World Cup Squad
Lippi seems to know who he will be taking to South Africa, and he will now focus on "perfecting" his team...
Italy coach Marcello Lippi has confirmed that he already has his World Cup squad in mind, claiming last minute call ups are unlikely to occur.
La Nazionale have just three games to fine tune and polish the team ahead of their appearance in South Africa next summer.
Lippi has hinted that he already has his final squad of 23 in mind, suggesting there is no room for surprises come June.
"The World Cup is drawing nearer and we have to start perfecting this group," Lippi told the press.
"Our journey is now in its final stages and it's a decisive time for us. This is the first ritiro since we qualified and I have only three games left before the tournament.
"I don't have much time for verification. We have worked with a group of 35 players - 23 of them will be going to South Africa.
"It will be very difficult for someone to be called up to the group come March, but not impossible."
La Nazionale clash with the Netherlands on Saturday and then Sweden the following Wednesday. Their next friendly is in March, but the opponent has not been confirmed.
"I would like to face an African team for that game," concluded the coach.
Speculation around the peninsula is rife that Antonio Cassano is unlikely to be picked for the World Cup. The Sampdoria man has never been picked by Lippi since his return to the helm in 2008.