"We know we have two of the three possible results in our favour but the team has to play like it can."
Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni, the 70-year-old Italian who managed the Azzurri without great success from 2000 to 2004, was famous for his cautious approach to Italy matches.
Midfielder Claudio Marchisio impressed on the left of a midfield diamond in September's 2-0 win over Bulgaria, Italy's best performance in months, but missed Tuesday's early training.
"Marchisio has a little problem, we have to check the condition of some players in the next two to three days," Lippi said. The World Cup-winning coach again became frustrated when asked about why Sampdoria's talented playmaker Antonio Cassano, Serie A's standout player this term, had again been overlooked.
"You have irritated me," Lippi said, adding his assistant Narciso Pezzotti was "mad" for saying Cassano would be recalled.
"Other than displeasure and solidarity for a coach who has lost his job, I have nothing else to say," he said.
