Italy coach Marcello Lippi on Wednesday scoffed at claims he is overly faithful to the players who won the World Cup with him in 2006 in Germany.

Italy leave next week for South Africa as they aim to defend the title they won in Berlin four years ago after a penalty shoot-out victory against France in the final.

But despite having only nine of those players in his 23-man squad, Lippi still feels criticised for not bringing in enough new blood.

"Everyone says it and I can still feel it now that I am too faithful to the champions, but instead I've changed 50 per cent of the team," he said from Italy's altitude training base in Sestriere.

"I can't leave 23 players at home just because they were in Berlin in 2006.

"Here we have many young players and enough with experience. They are the future of the national team but they also have to be the present."

Lippi trimmed his squad from 28 players to 23 on Tuesday with goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu, centre-back Mattia Cassani, midfielder Andrea Cossu and strike pair Giuseppe Rossi and Marco Borriello being dumped.

And Lippi explained that versatility had played an important role in his choices.

"Versatility was a vital criteria," he added. "The choices were all made in relation to the ability of players to adapt to different positions.

"All the exclusions were particularly difficult. For Giuseppe Rossi it was probably even harder as he has been with us a long time."

Italy now play two warm-up games before heading out to South Africa: against Mexico in Brussels on Thursday and then against Switzerland in Geneva on Saturday.

And the coach suggested that he will be playing his first choice team in one and the reserves in the other.

"One of these two tests will be crucial for me to clarify my ideas and that will be tomorrow's against Mexico."

The player who was probably the biggest surprise inclusion in Lippi's squad was Napoli forward Fabio Quagliarella, who insisted it was due to his recovery skills.

"It has often happened to me in my career but when I've been pronounced dead I've always risen again," he said.

"Maybe that's my strength. I've had many difficult moments in my career but in the end my coaches have always had faith in me and I've repaid them."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP