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Italy coach Marcello Lippi admitted Italy's
failure to progress beyond the group stage of the World Cup was
down to him.
"I take all responsibility, because if a team arrives at such an
important appointment as this with terror in their legs, heads and
hearts, unable to express themselves, then it means the coach has
not prepared the squad properly on any level," Lippi said.
"There are tactical and physical issues, too, but I think above
all it is to do with the psychological aspect. I felt this team
could achieve something and evidently I did not prepare them
properly. I expected everything but the first half
performance."
Lippi, who guided the team to glory at the 2006 World Cup, was
already set to leave at the end of the tournament. "I am very
disappointed to end my second experience on the Italy bench like
this," he admitted. "I certainly didn't expect it. I didn't think
I'd win the World Cup a second time, but [did not expect] to crash
out in the group phase.
"I wish my successor the best and thank all of you for these
four years, which were in part fantastic and in part very, very
disappointing."
The last World Cup holders to go home without reaching the
knockout phase were France in 2002.
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i am very proud of lippi. he accept responsibility.
