With the self-belief befitting a coach of his vast experience and pedigree, Marcello Lippi is very much his own man. And despite the persistent media queries about the ageing legs of the world champions’ big-name stars, the Azzurri supremo appears set to keep faith with his veterans come the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa.

Fabio Cannavaro, Gianluigi Buffon, Fabio Grosso, Gianluca Zambrotta, Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo and Luca Toni have all breached the 30 mark, though it would be a real surprise if any of these Germany 2006 stalwarts were to miss out on this year’s showpiece. “If I was forced to take public opinion into account, four years ago I would have had to leave players like Cannavaro and Buffon at home and hand in my resignation,” said Lippi, in response to criticism of his selection policy.