Buoyant Lippi looks to Italy to push on to World Cup glory

By George Burns Jul 5, 2006, 1:53 GMT

Dortmund - Italy coach Marcello Lippi said Tuesday that he expected his team to go on and lift the World Cup for a fourth time after knocking out hosts Germany to book their place in Sunday's final in Berlin.

The match finished scoreless at the end of 90 minutes but last- gasp goals from Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Del Piero sealed a 2-0 win in extra-time to ensure Italy remained undefeated in competitive football against their European rival.

'We haven't reached the end of the road yet. It is important to remember that,' said Lippi. 'It was an end-to-end game and at the finish our players were better quality than the Germans although it was on a razor's edge.'

Italy finished the match with four strikers after Lippi brought on Vincenzo Iaquinta and Del Piero in extra time, while he earlier brought on Alberto Gilardino.

'I felt it was necessary to send on Del Piero,' Lippi said. 'When I sent him on, I said to my colleagues on the bench that he would score the decisive goal. I knew he would make an impact.'

Lippi denied that he played with four attacking players in an attempt to avoid a penalty shoot-out, although it would be understandable as Italy have gone out in this way in three of the last four World Cups.

'If we had to go to a penalty shootout we would have survived that too,' he said confidently.

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi was on hand to see the famous victory at the Westfalen stadium and was one of the first to congratulate the Italy coach.

'This is the match that everyone wanted to see. To beat Germany in their own back yard is an amazing feat,' said Lippi.

'I think we were dominant in midfield,' he said. 'Controlling possession in midfield is essential in modern football. (Francesco) Totti really pulled the strings and ensured we kept control.'

Lippi refused to speculate about his future with the national team job or about whether he would prefer to face France and Portugal, who square off Wednesday in the other semi-final.

'I would be stupid if I picked one of them as my favoured opponent as this would only spur them on even more,' Lippi said.