Lippi believes big players are the solution for Italy

Former

coach Marcello Lippi has claimed that the crisis in Italy is that there are no more players like Francesco Totti and Alessandro Del Piero.

Italy failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, despite winning the Euro 2020 title last summer. They faced Northern Macedonia in the play-offs and suffered defeat, and now Lippi claims that the main problem is that there are no more big players in Italian football.

He said:

"I wouldn’t talk about a crisis in Italian football. It’s just a moment.

“The level in the Champions League is high, but it’s a different story for the national team. If you can’t beat North Macedonia, the glass is surely half empty.

“We are European champions and this group has remained unbeaten for a long time. We also have to remember that 65% of Serie A footballers were Italian when I was the coach. Now only 30-35%. There are no longer players like Totti, Del Piero or Vincenzo Montella.

“Roberto Mancini has done a great job, except for the game with Macedonia. If there is somebody who knows Italian football, it’s him. I think it is correct that he remained in charge. Now we must move on.”

The Serie A title race is very tight and

,

and Napoli are battling for the Scudetto. Asked about the favorite team to win the Serie A, Lippi said: 

“I don’t talk about favourites, I only say that the team that played better football in the last two-three games was Inter.

“They are angry and determined. They put in an excellent performance against 

 on Saturday.

“The victory against 

 motivated them and slowed the Bianconeri down. Perhaps, had Juventus won, they would have been in the race until the end. Now there are three teams involved, I don’t think Juventus will recover.”

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