Lippi unconcerned by Cannavaro's positive test

Italy coach Marcello Lippi played down Fabio Cannavaro's positive dope test for banned cortisone and insisted his captain was still part of his immediate plans.

On Thursday Italian media revealed that Juventus centre-back Cannavaro had failed a dope test but his club explained that it was due to an anti-allergy medication taken as a matter of urgency following a wasp sting.

His club had submitted documention to the Italian Football Federation to ask for a medical exemption but it was not complete and in the mean time, Cannavaro took a test which he failed.

Italian Olympic Committe anti-doping prosecutors are investigating but Lippi played down the whole incident ahead of Saturday's trip to Dublin to tackle Giovanni Trapattoni's Ireland in a crucial World Cup qualifier, for which Cannavaro is banned.

Cannavaro is not currently with the Italy squad but was due to link up with them on Sunday as he will be available for Wednesday's match against Cyprus in Parma.

"I haven't spoken to Fabio but there was no need, this was all blown over in a couple of hours. Will he be with us here on Sunday? Of course he will," said Lippi.


Cannavaro's club team-mate and central defensive partner Giorgio Chiellini claimed he was not worried for the former Real Madrid star and world player of the year.

"The fear for Cannavaro lasted three seconds, the time it took to read the news," he said.

"I'm disappointed anyone thinks there's something behind this. Fabio is squeaky clean, it would be awful to bring a case when there isn't one.

"I was there when Fabio was stung by a wasp during a training session ahead of the match against AS Roma.

"His arm swelled up straight away, there was apprehension but also a minimum of risk. Apart from some hitches in the procedure, everything was done above board."

Although they haven't spoken, Chiellini said he and his team-mate had exchanged messages via mobile phone.

"He's calm and we are too, we expect to see him at Coverciano (Italy's training base near Florence) on Sunday."

The whole affair has cast a shadow over what is a crucial match for the Italians.

If they avoid defeat in Dublin they will have booked their ticket to South Africa but if they do lose, they will have a pressure match against Cyprus on Wednesday where they would have to come away with the three points.

That's something Lippi desperately wants to avoid.

"There's a big difference between securing qualification tomorrow or Wednesday against Cyprus, I'd like to qualify tomorrow," said Lippi.

"When you consider that great players like Cristiano Ronaldo (of Portugal) and (Sweden's Zlatan) Ibrahimovic risk missing out (on qualifying) is not something to be scoffed at."

There have been rumours recently in Italy that Lippi might return to Juventus, where he won five titles and the Champions League, after the World Cup, but the veteran coach remained vague about that.

"(Gianluigi) Buffon said it well yesterday when he emphasised that I concentrate on my work. My work takes over my whole life, I don't even know what I'll do tomorrow let alone next summer," said Lippi, whose contract is due to run out after the World Cup.

"I'll do what I did four years ago after (winning the 2006) World Cup, I'll sit down and we'll see.

"What use would it be to sign a deal beforehand and then to stay on if things went badly.

"And one thing's for sure, if I stay after the World Cup I'll also get a bigger contract."