Marcello Lippi looked back over Italy’s triumph at the 2006 World Cup. “After beating Germany, I was convinced we’d win.”
The former Azzurri Coach held the trophy during a RAI TV special seeing off the team for Euro 2016.
“The biggest struggle of them all was the second against the USA, as we went down to 10 men because Daniele De Rossi got himself sent off for an elbow.
“Australia was also very tough, as again we were down to 10 and had to go to extra time, so we suffered there as well.
Marcello Lippi looked back over Italy’s triumph at the 2006 World Cup. “After beating Germany, I was convinced we’d win.”
The former Azzurri Coach held the trophy during a RAI TV special seeing off the team for Euro 2016.
“The biggest struggle of them all was the second against the USA, as we went down to 10 men because Daniele De Rossi got himself sent off for an elbow.
“Australia was also very tough, as again we were down to 10 and had to go to extra time, so we suffered there as well.
“We have to admit we were lucky that a certain intersection of results meant we faced Australia and Ukraine rather than Argentina, which is a very different prospect.
“After beating Germany in the semi-final, I became convinced we would win the trophy.”
Italy famously had a poor record in penalty shoot-outs, losing the 1990 semi-final, 1994 Final and 1998 quarter-final, but scored all five against France in Berlin.
“We’d been robbed before in the 1990 World Cup on penalties, conceding at the last minute in Euro 2000, so it was our turn.
“That was the culmination of two years of hard work, getting to know ourselves and because of all that the team was able to transform the controversy and complaints around Calciopoli and all that into positive energy.”
Is it true Lippi will return to the Nazionale as a director?
“I learned in this profession that the club or Federation is the one to make things official, as I cannot.”