Italy's Del Piero not guaranteed World Cup place

Italy coach Marcello Lippi says Alessandro Del Piero is not guaranteed a place in their World Cup squad despite giving the striker a starting spot for today's final qualifier against Moldova.

Del Piero was quoted in the Italian media yesterday as saying he felt he had nothing to prove against the Moldovans but Lippi said the Juventus striker was not among those players already assured of a place in the final 23.

"Some players can be certain, others a little less," said Lippi when asked about how sure he was of his squad for next year's finals in Germany.

Asked specifically about Del Piero's status, Lippi said: "I'll be frank, he is not among the certain ones. Eight months away from the competition I don't think it is right to give out the names of the ones who can be sure of going.

"When he says that he doesn't have to demonstrate anything I believe he means that if he plays as he can then he has nothing to prove. All the players have to do well game after game - that is the way things are."

Del Piero, who is no longer an automatic starter for Juventus, has been squeezed out of the Italy attack with Lippi preferring to play with two big forwards in front of Francesco Totti.

Del Piero watched Saturday's 1-0 over Slovenia, which booked the Azzurri's place in Germany, from the bench with Lippi preferring to play Fiorentina's Luca Toni and Milan's Alberto Gilardino with Totti.

With nothing at stake today, Lippi will field a side largely made up of those who missed out against the Slovenians.

The Italy coach confirmed that Del Piero will start in attack alongside Milan's Christian Vieri and Udinese's Vincenzo Iaquinta.

"We will play with those three up front, they are a trio that really has everything - power, speed and creativity," said the Italy coach.