Zoff defends Azzurri fans as coach gets Lippi

FORMER Italy coach Dino Zoff last night hit out at Azzurri boss Marcelo Lippi for his negative reaction to fans in Parma following the Azzurri’s narrow victory over Cyprus on Wednesday night.

Some of those in attendance booed Lippi and also chanted the name of Antonio Cassano, the Sampdoria striker whom Lippi has not selected in any of his squads since reclaiming the reins after Euro 2008.

The fans grew impatient with Italy losing 2-0 in their last World Cup qualifier before Alberto Gilardino turned the game around, scoring a hat-trick in the last 13 minutes.

Lippi called the fans “shameful” after the game, and Zoff has lashed out at the veteran coach.

“He cannot allow himself to be that arrogant,” said Zoff.

“The fans have the right to invoke whatever they want.

“He can distance himself from that, but always with a certain education.”

Meanwhile Argentina coach Diego Maradona took a swipe at his critics and thanked his players after guiding his country to next year’s World Cup finals with a 1-0 win over Uruguay late on Wednesday night.

Huracan midfielder Mario Bolatti, winning just his third cap, fired home with six minutes remaining in Montevideo after the home defence failed to deal with Juan Sebastian Veron’s drilled effort from a free-kick.

Maradona has come in for fierce criticism for his disjointed handling of Argentina’s qualification campaign, which has seen him field over 70 players, but Wednesday night’s win secured fourth place in the South American qualifying zone and the final automatic berth for South Africa.

And the 48-year-old was quick to praise his players for their efforts.

“I would like to thank the team for giving me the privilege to lead Argentina to World Cup,” he said. “Thank you to the Argentinian people who had faith.

“Thanks to the players who managed to stand firm and take this group forward.

“I have a good memory and now I am going to remember more than ever. This is for those who did not believe in the national team and treated me like dirt – they will now have to accept this. I want to thank the players and fans – no-one but them.”

Maradona also hit back at reports of a rift between himself and team manager Carlos Bilardo.

“They (the press) invented that I was fighting with Bilardo.

“They gave wrong information. If you want to exchange information, to give it before you know the facts, the problem is yours.”