Substitute Alberto Gilardino struck in the last minute to give the Azzurri a 2-2 draw against second-placed Ireland in Dublin on Saturday and seal their passage to the finals as Group Eight winners.
With the final group game against Cyprus in Parma on Wednesday, a normally cautious Lippi allowed himself to dream of a repeat of Italy's 1982 and 2006 World Cup triumphs.
"The only other times Italy have qualified with a game to spare was in 1982 and 2006. We won't talk about it, but we know how we finished up. But I'd say it's a good omen," Lippi told Italian television.
A draw was a fair result after an entertaining game and Italy showed a real desire that has not always been apparent in the qualifying campaign, especially after slipping 2-1 behind following Sean St Ledger's 87th minute header.
"We qualified a bit riskily but it is more fun that way," he said. "In the end we deserved a draw, for 2-1 I lost a bit of concentration. This is my most important goal for the Azzurri."
Sampdoria's Angelo Palombo has failed to really take his chance in the centre of the park but most of the squad is well-set for South Africa, unless the mercurial Antonio Cassano can persuade Lippi that more creativity is needed.
