Italy coach Marcello Lippi says he'll stick with the tried and tested for his World Cup squad.

Lippi is confident his ageing squad can backup again in South Africa.

He told FIFA's website: "The World Cup is about seven games over a month, we don't necessarily need all the players to be 24 years old.

"If I had to use this team over an entire League season I'd probably make some different selections. But for a month it's not a problem.

"You don't judge a player's quality on age or technical ability alone. Enthusiasm, experience, charisma, wisdom, international experience: they're all part of the equation.

"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.

"Since I started out as a Coach, be it at club level or with the national team, my decisions have been dictated by one guiding principle: I've never let myself be swayed by campaigns coming from outside the camp.

"If I'm convinced that something needs doing, I see it through to the end.

"Don't get me wrong, it's not the 2006 success which influences my decisions. In any case, in Italy you're not judged on what you've done in the past: you're judged on what comes next."