Soccer Extreme : A furious Marcello Lippi blasted the protesting Tardini fans after their 3-2 win over Cyprus. “It's shameful! It's an absolute disgrace!”The Azzurri were 2-0 down in Parma and jeered off the field at half-time, chanting for the inclusion of Antonio Cassano.
Alberto Gilardino's brace and a Fabio Quagliarella strike - perhaps with Gila's final touch - completed the stunning late comeback.
“We earned qualification on Saturday, so you can imagine there was some celebration,” said a clearly angry Lippi.
“I changed the entire starting XI, unthinkable in a qualifier, we are world champions and came here to play a game that doesn't count at all.
“As soon as we ran into some difficulties, which is understandable as they hadn't played before ever, the fans start insulting them and chanting the name of other players?
“It's shameful! It's an absolute disgrace and the supporters should show more love and recognition for this Nazionale.
“This team, which let us not forget are world champions - I repeat, world champions - again qualified a round early.
“Naturally we celebrated and so were not as concentrated as we would've been had this game counted for something.
“At the first difficulty, these lads are told to 'go to work' by the fans? Are we crazy here? And they can do nothing other than call for the Coach to bring in other players? Do these boys not deserve support now?
“These players deserve a lot of respect. It's too easy to then chant 'Italia! Italia!' when we win, these are the same players who got that victory and completed an impressive comeback.” (football italia)