Italy coach Marcello Lippi says he wants his players to copy the selfless style of Manchester United's England forward Wayne Rooney.
"What counts more than the formation is the philosophy, the desire of great players to put themselves at the service of the team when the opposition have the ball. Like Rooney does at Manchester," Lippi told La Gazzetta dello Sport yesterday.
The 2006 World Cup-winning coach, who returned to the Azzurri dugout in place of Roberto Donadoni after Italy's unsuccessful Euro 2008 campaign, said self-belief will be crucial if his side are to triumph again in South Africa in two years' time.
"The first time there is the metaphor of the great hunger. Now we have to find new motivation," he said.
He also called on Brazilian-born striker Amauri to make up his mind, after Juve's new signing gave mixed signals about whether he wants to play for Italy when his application for an Italian passport is processed, or wait for a Brazil call-up.
"I don't like it that a player dances between one national team and another for a month," Lippi said.
"I'd like a strong, decisive choice. I'm not asking for anything from anyone. If he legally becomes Italian and chooses Italy, I would not be displeased."
The Brazilian striker is applying for Italian citizenship and was asked to be part of the Azzurri by Donadoni.
Lippi is looking to the future of the national team and invited former stalwarts, like Francesco Totti and Alessandro Nesta, to reconsider their decision to retire.
"I advise anyone never to give a definitive farewell to international football, as they might end up reconsidering like Zinedine Zidane and Claude Makelele.
"I'll be paying close attention to the Olympic Games, as there are four or five players I'm keeping an eye on."
Although he did not name them, Gazzetta dello Sport suggested some of those ready to make the leap up from U-21 level are Giuseppe Rossi, Riccardo Montolivo, Antonio Nocerino, Sebastian Giovinco, Robert Acquafresca and goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano.
Lippi's first match is a friendly against Austria in Nice on August 20. Italy then start their World Cup qualifying campaign in Cyprus on September 6 and at home to Georgia on September 10.