Critics have lambasted coach Lippi for relying too heavily on his 2006 heroes and not bringing more youth to the World Cup following a lacklustre qualification and friendly campaign.
"We are not the oldest, there are a couple of teams older than us," Lippi told a news conference at a college near Pretoria which will act as Italy's "Casa Azzurri" or "home of the Blues" during the tournament.
"We have a mix, nine players from 2006 is less than 50 percent. I haven't seen a team at a World Cup that four years later turn up with 23 new players. We have the right mix with young players and those with quality."
"My motivation is a lot greater than four years ago," Lippi added. "I don't know why. I'm a lot more pumped up now."
"It's reasonable to think that next Monday they will all be available except for Pirlo," Lippi added.
"I have clear ideas but I've not been able to translate it onto the field because there have been problems and injuries. But from tomorrow, except for Pirlo, I can do what I have in my head. I want a defence a bit more compact which means we can have players further forward who don't need to defend."
"He came as we all have the confidence that maybe by the third game he can be there. We will cope," Lippi said without wishing to name Riccardo Montolivo as Pirlo's replacement.
"People say Italy are slow starters, but how often has it worked? Lots," Italy's 1982 World Cup winner Alessandro Altobelli told Reuters.
