* Gattuso and Pirlo say Italy showing was shameful (adds Gattuso, Pirlo quotes)
By Mark Meadows
"I take all responsibility. I haven't prepared this team well enough," an ashen-faced Lippi told a news conference without even being prompted by a question.
"I didn't think we could win the World Cup but I though we would do better."
"I failed to train the team well enough, they weren't ready for such an important match. For an hour and 15 minutes, for psychological reasons I think, nothing worked," he said.
Lippi first quit straight after their triumph in Germany but returned in 2008 after Italy's disappointing European Championship campaign under Roberto Donadoni.
"I don't regret coming back, I came back with great enthusiasm," he added.
"I have no intention of getting straight back into coaching and training after this," added Lippi. "I'll take some months off and we will see."
"When we won the World Cup we all got given national medals of honour. Now they'll give us medals of shame, which is right," midfielder Gennaro Gattuso told reporters having played his last game for the Azzurri before international retirement.
"Italian football must examine its conscience. Tonight we have reached rock bottom," he added.
Midfielder Andrea Pirlo, who said he would not quit Italy but feared a cycle had ended, echoed Gattuso's views.
"We have done something shameful," he said. "We haven't won a game. It's everyone's fault."
