Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has sided with Marcello Lippi over the Italy coach's overlooking of Sampdoria striker Antonio Cassano.

Ahead of tomorrow's World Cup qualifier, Trapattoni said: "A coach has the responsibility to create a team and use his ideas to do so.

"Football is a sport in which we need a concrete base and a strong system. It is not an individual's game, the balance of the squad must always be the main element to be taken into consideration."