Lippi satisfied with draw

Lippi: Satisfied with draw

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Italy coach Marcello Lippi has expressed himself to be 'quietly satisfied' with the draw for the World Cup finals, but will not be lulled into thinking the holders have an easy group.

The 2006 winners will face Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia in Group F next summer, and will be expected to breeze through to the last 16 of the competition.

However, Lippi is not taking progression to the knockout phase for granted and is keen to focus on the merits of Italy's World Cup opponents.

"In this case you must be realistic and check the value of the teams we will face and prepare to face them one by one," Lippi told Rai TV.

"An opponent becomes difficult when you consider it easy.

"Paraguay have been at the top of the South American qualifiers. These are not easy or difficult opponents. Slovakia had really good games and beat important teams.

"We must prepare ourselves in a good way, then we can put an eye on to the next stages."

Attention

When asked if Italy would win the group, Lippi replied: "Theoretically, all the top sides can win their group, or it can happen as what happened in Germany when not all the top sides won it.

"I don't think of other groups, I'm thinking of our one. Paraguay are a strong team, Slovakia have grown a lot.

"These are teams who have shown a big value and so we must face them with our best attention and consideration, and only after having met them, can we think of other things.

"We are quietly satisfied, but this doesn't mean we are considering this to be an easy group."