Italy head coach Marcello Lippi is currently enjoying the fact that Italy aren’t considered major favourites for winning the World Cup in Germany, and that the lack of media pressure may work in Italy’s favour.

Speaking on Bravo’s Gazzetta Football Italia programme, the Azzurri coach said: “The fact that there is not too much talk about Italy is not a negative thing.”

“If we were to go around the world and ask which is the strongest team right now then people will say Brazil.

“But then there are the hosts, Germany, as well as four or five other teams like Argentina, England, France and Holland,” continued the former Juventus manager.

“Nevertheless, I’d say Italy too. We have tradition and the Azzurri start every World Cup with the ambition of winning it.”

Lippi also talked about his close friendship with England boss Sven Goran Eriksson, who knows Marcello Lippi from the days when Eriksson was manager of Lazio.

“I am a very good friend of Sven Goran Eriksson, we speak on a regular basis, and he says that he is very happy about his work with the English FA,” said the Azzurri coach.

“He tells me that there is a big difference between Italy and England in the way the media treat football.

“There is much more interest from the Italian Press to talk about the technical aspects of a game or a footballer, whereas in England they seem to be more interested in the personal affairs of individuals. He says that is the main difference.”

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