Ex-teammates and friends have rallied to support underfire Italy coach Marcello Lippi.

Lippi is being blamed for Italy's worst ever World Cup campaign.

"Marcello is very upset at the situation," revealed friend Enrico Petri to the newspapers. "The real problem was in the minds of the players. They were too terrified of the World Cup.

"I don't think Marcello will end his career like this. He'll become the technical director of a club."

Former colleagues are also trying to defend Lippi from the attacks of the media and fans.

"Let's not forget that if we won the World Cup in 2006, it was almost entirely down to him," ex-Sampdoria teammate Nilo Bini told the Gazzetta dello Sport.

"He is a winner, even if he has some responsibility for this exit. Perhaps his only real mistake was returning to the Nazionale."