It’s certainly not the Italian way, but manager Marcello Lippi today insisted his side would be going all out for a win on Saturday. Needing just a point to ensure qualification at Croke Park, most Italian teams would play for the draw.
But Lippi claimed his team can’t afford to sit back against the Republic of Ireland and will be aiming for three points.
The world champions lead Group Eight, four points clear of Giovanni Trapattoni’s side with two games remaining and end their qualifying campaign against Cyprus in Parma next Wednesday.
"It would be an error to play for a draw on Saturday," Lippi told a news conference at Italy's training base near Florence. "We know we have two of the three possible results in our favour but the team has to play like it can."
Trapattoni, the 70-year-old Italian who managed the Azzurri without great success from 2000 to 2004, was famous for his cautious approach to Italy matches.
Lippi said his lineup or formation were not yet decided given a few players were carrying niggles.
Midfielder Claudio Marchisio impressed on the left of a midfield diamond in September's 2-0 win over Bulgaria, Italy's best performance in months, but missed today’s early training.
"Marchisio has a little problem, we have to check the condition of some players in the next two to three days," Lippi said.
The World Cup-winning coach again became frustrated when asked about why Sampdoria's talented playmaker Antonio Cassano, Serie A's standout player this term, had again been overlooked.
"You have irritated me," Lippi said, adding his assistant Narciso Pezzotti was "mad" for saying Cassano would be recalled.
The Azzurri will be without captain Fabio Cannavaro for this weekend’s showdown with the Juventus defender serving a one-match ban.
A minute’s silence will be observed prior to the game at Croke Park for the victims of the Messina disaster. Mudslides on October 1st near the Sicilian city of Messina have left 24 dead and 705 people homeless.
There will also be a minute’s silence before the match against Cyprus in Parma on October 14th. Italy’s players will wear black armbands in both matches.
