ROME, June 27: Italy recalled World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi on Thursday to replace Roberto Donadoni following their Euro 2008 failure.

The lacklustre world champions were eliminated by Spain in a quarter-final penalty shootout on Sunday and the Italian soccer federation (FIGC) wasted little time in reacting.

“I’m very, very happy and very motivated,” Lippi told the ANSA news agency.—Reuters