Lippi tells Sampdoria’s Cassano to forget World Cup

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has dropped a big hint that Sampdoria striker Antonio Cassano can forget about next year's World Cup.

Lippi has been roundly criticised for keeping the Sampdoria fantasista out of his plans despite a number of top class performances.

Interviewed in L'Espresso, Lippi said: “I am very sorry for Cassano as he is a good guy, but I have my own ideas, even though this incredible situation has been created.

“People say that I am stubborn and arrogant. My weakness is coherence. Fans and newspapers are like political parties. They all have their own candidate for La Nazionale. It's legitimate, God forbid.

“But, I follow my ideas with conviction and when I don't give explanations for them it's because I am sure that they would create even more polemic.”