FLORENCE, Italy (AP) - Former Italy coach Marcello Lippi has drawn comparisons between the current Azzurri squad and the one he led to the World Cup title in 2006.
Lippi is visiting Italy’s training camp near Florence and was present at practice on Thursday morning.
He says “it was very emotional. There is a certain similarity between my group in 2006 and this one.”
Lippi also managed Italy during the 2010 World Cup, where the defending champion suffered an embarrassing group-stage exit.
He was criticized for relying heavily on veterans and failing to put his trust in young players such as United States-born forward Giuseppe Rossi.
Lippi adds “I told (Rossi) that for the first time in my career I regret something, that is not having taken him to the World Cup in South Africa.”
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