Internationals

Lippi On Balotelli And Cassano

Italian national team coach Marcello Lippi has commented on youngster Mario Balotelli and troublesome talent Antonio Cassano.

Nov 4, 2008 1:56:36 PM

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Marcello Lippi, Italy vs Austria

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Marcello Lippi has come back into the national team set-up after a two-year absence following the Azzurri's victorious World Cup campaign in 2006. He has had to deal with a number of issues since his return to the post, but squad selection has always been a point of public debate.

It is no secret that the coach wants to inject some young blood into the Azzurri mix, but Inter starlet Mario Balotelli has still not received a call up.

The World Cup-winning coach commented on the 18-year-old striker who recently performed very well for the Azzurrini. “I don't want to put pressure on him. There are a lot of people who already think we put too much on him,” said Lippi.

A hot topic has inevitably been the exclusion thus far of wild-child Antonio Cassano, with some believing that the controversial Fantantonio should be a permanent fixture in the squad and others totally disagreeing.

Lippi was vague regarding the talented Bari native, simply stating, “He is like every one of the other players in Serie A. I always like to say that all players from 18 to 40 should dream of the national team. They should not be angry if once, twice or five times even, they are not selected. Evidently, whoever makes the choices has different ideas in his head.”

Peter Pedroncelli

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