Abete upset with Donadoni

Italy coach criticised for unacceptable performance

By Nadia Carminati   Last updated: 29th June 2008

Abete upset with Donadoni

Donadoni: Did not meet expectations

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The president of the Italian Football Federation has admitted that he expected more from Roberto Donadoni.

Donadoni lost his job as Azzurri coach following the penalty shoot-out defeat to Spain in the quarter-finals of Euro 2008.

Italy had been unimpressive in qualifying from Group C, losing 3-0 to Holland in their opening match before holding Romania to a 1-1 draw and beating France 2-0.

They had been tipped to challenge for glory in Austria and Switzerland after winning the World Cup two years ago, and Italian supremo Giancarlo Abete was disappointed with Donadoni's performance.

"It hasn't been the penalty defeat against Spain that has pushed us in a certain direction," Abete told La Stampa.

"Let's say I expected and we expected more. I hoped we would go forward.

"We were in the group of death but we should have got to the semi-finals. Our biggest regret is not having taken advantage of all our potential.

"We were arriving from a World Cup win, you can't forget that."

Not sacked

Marcello Lippi has been re-appointed to the role and Abete insists there had to be a change.

"When you replace a coach who won the World Cup title, you know what you face," said Abete.

"We haven't sacked Donadooni. We have simply followed what the pacts were saying - that's to say that in case of a semi-final we would have continued together until 2010.

"Instead, in case of an elimination before, the two parties would have had ten days to discuss the situation.

"Lippi knows it will be most difficult to come back but I admire his sensational strength and the will to put himself in another challenge."