Lippi warns his players not to play for a draw

MARCELLO LIPPI yesterday hailed Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni’s management skills and stressed his Italy side would be foolish to play for a point in Saturday’s World Cup qualifier at Croke Park.

The Azzurri only need a draw in Dublin to book their tickets for South Africa, while former Italy coach Trapattoni’s men are two points away from a play-off slot, with Montenegro visiting Dublin four days after the world champions.

“(Trapattoni has brought to Ireland his) capacity to organise and become a team and his ability to develop the self-esteem of this group of players so that they are able to contend with anyone,” Lippi told a news conference at Italy’s training centre near Florence.