Azzurri boss Lippi cool despite pressure as Slovaks eye famous Italian job
The world champions have drawn their opening two matches against Paraguay and New Zealand and head to Johannesburg second in their pool. They are level on points with the All Whites and two points behind leaders Paraguay.
“We haven’t been tormented by this wait, the confidence is there,” said Lippi. “We haven’t done that well so far and we must do better.
“But we don’t want this to be our last game. My lads have a great spirit and we just have to improve, especially in attack.
“We want to go through to the knockout round.”
A draw against Slovakia could be enough for the Azzurri to progress. However, Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro wants to make sure his team gets all three points today.
“We have worked hard for two years,” said Cannavaro, who will retire from international duty after this tournament. “It would be a pity to return home tomorrow, more so considering that our best is yet to come.”
Italy had hoped to recover midfielder Andrea Pirlo for the crucial clash but the AC Milan star, who has so far been ruled out of the tournament with a calf injury, will not start for the Azzurri.
Slovakia are bottom of the group having claimed just one point so far but can still qualify if results go their way. Coach Vladimir Weiss stopped short of apologising to journalists after using abusive words and making threats to the media at a briefing on Tuesday.
Weiss did not take kindly to a question asked at a team camp briefing on Tuesday, muttering an obscenity and allegedly threatening to punch one journalist, and did not seem too repentant today.
“I am sorry for the relationship we are having at the moment but I can’t apologise. I am in football for people who like us, who love football and who respect this game.
“I am working in this area because I want football to bring us luck, but some of you work in your area because you want to bring unhappiness.”
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