Lippi changes Italy’s forward thinking

IN these troubled times it’s gratifying to know that Italy’s coach reads the Irish Examiner.

That’s the only conclusion to be drawn from the fact that Marcello Lippi has brought Fabio Quagliarella into his squad for tomorrow night’s match against Montenegro.

It seemed a little strange to leave the Udinese striker out of the party against Bulgaria, especially as he’d scored three goals in eight days, but this was the only paper that questioned the decision. As it was Lippi had little choice, with his main target man Luca Toni suspended after collecting a yellow card in Sofia when he came on as a sub.