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World Cup 2010: Lippi Keeps Italy's Balotelli Hooked On Hope
Lippi claims he has time on his hands to deal with the Balotelli question.
Dec 12, 2009 5:37:54 AM
Italy coach Marcello Lippi is in no mood to uncover plans on whether Inter striker Mario Balotelli will be picked for the World Cup as he dribbles past the question of whether or not the hitman will be included in the Giro Azzurro.
There have been widespread calls for Lippi to consider the youngster who has already played for Italy at under-21 level. Massimo Moratti sparked off the debate when he beamed that his man was good enough for a senior call up.
The Nazionale coach has already hinted he faces a squeeze on player allocation in the run up to June, but he has left Balotelli with a source of hope, promising to renew his ideas on squad selection soon.
"Balotelli? I will speak about this at the right time. This is not the right moment," Lippi told the press who marauded the Monaldi hospital in Naples where the coach was taking part in a charity event.
"The journalists can say what they like, but I will speak at the right moment and say what I have to say."
Balotelli has been linked with a call up from the senior Ghana national team, fueling speculation that the Azzurri could miss out.
Salvatore Landolina, Goal.com
How important is the draw to a team's World Cup success? Find out what the experts say in the DEC/JAN issue of Goal.com Magazine.
There have been widespread calls for Lippi to consider the youngster who has already played for Italy at under-21 level. Massimo Moratti sparked off the debate when he beamed that his man was good enough for a senior call up.
The Nazionale coach has already hinted he faces a squeeze on player allocation in the run up to June, but he has left Balotelli with a source of hope, promising to renew his ideas on squad selection soon.
"Balotelli? I will speak about this at the right time. This is not the right moment," Lippi told the press who marauded the Monaldi hospital in Naples where the coach was taking part in a charity event.
"The journalists can say what they like, but I will speak at the right moment and say what I have to say."
Balotelli has been linked with a call up from the senior Ghana national team, fueling speculation that the Azzurri could miss out.
Salvatore Landolina, Goal.com
How important is the draw to a team's World Cup success? Find out what the experts say in the DEC/JAN issue of Goal.com Magazine.
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