Lippi gives Roma's Cassano World Cup nod

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has tipped Roma forward Antonio Cassano, who he has yet to call up to the national squad, to play a key part in their qualifying campaign for the 2006 World Cup.

Hugely gifted but with a reputation for being hot-headed and a problem for managers, Cassano has not played for his country since being the only bright spot in Italy's early exit from Euro 2004 under former boss Giovanni Trapattoni.

However, Lippi pinpointed the 22-year-old yesterday, along with some Roma team-mates and Inter's Christian Vieri, as one of the players coming into form.

"He's not been called up since I became manager because he's always been injured, he's always had a problem," Lippi told an Italian business audience in London.

"My aim is to have the biggest number of players with the desire, the enthusiasm and also the feeling that they could be called up for the national team.

"They should be ready to be called up for one moment to the next... they will be called up."

Asked what Cassano could bring Italy, Lippi said: "Not only at the World Cup, but also in qualifying, he can offer his inventiveness, his ability to make the unexpected happen, his creative spark, his skills.

"You can't build a team that's based solely on being solid and compact. At World Cup level, you also need that stroke of genius, that creativity which some players have - and Cassano is one them.

"In the past, we've had Baggio, Del Piero and others. Brazil have Ronaldinho and Kaka, while Argen-tina have Tevez."

Lippi, whose Juventus sides reached four Champions League finals, said: "It is possible to build a team based on strength, on keeping things tight and on determination.

"But if you want to become really competitive, you need to build a team that's made up of that for seven or eight 11ths and then have two or three of those players who can win a game at any moment with one bit of magic."