Italy coach Roberto Donadoni refused to give up his post though being heavily criticized after the world champions quarterfinal exit from Euro 2008.
The Azzurri suffered a 4-2 shootout defeat to Spain on Sunday after a dull 0-0 draw on 120 minutes, and the consensus in the Italian media on Monday has commanded a resignation of Donadoni and asked World Cup winning coach Marcello Lippi to return.
Italy's national soccer coach Roberto Donadoni listens to reporter's question during a news conference in Oberwaltersdorf June 23, 2008. Donadoni refused to give up his post though being heavily criticized after the world champions quarterfinal exit from Euro 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
"I don't know if you guys have fresher news than me. But I'm calm without worries about it," Donadoni told a press conference in Italy's training base at Baden, Austria starting 1100 local time on Monday.
"I've not seen the reason I should resign. That seemed an excessive request," he said. "I don't see why decisions like this should be made on a game won or lost on penalties."
Spain's coach Luis Aragones (L) gestures as Italy's coach Roberto Donadoni watches the play during their Euro 2008 quarter-final soccer match at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna, June 22, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
The former AC Milan star extended his contract with the Italian FA (FIGC) for two more years before the Azzurri's Euro 2008 opening match, which will keep Donadoni in reign till 2010 World Cup and allow the extension to be terminated by either party should results at Euro 2008 be deemed unsatisfactory.
After Sunday's exit, rumors doubting on Donadoni's future again came around as Italian football boss declined to give support to the under-pressure coach.
"We decided that it was not the right time to make a decision right after the game," said Giancarlo Abete. "We will meet in the coming days to decide on the future. And I should talk the assignment issue with other men in the federation as well."
Donadoni, however, though the media had read too much into Abete's words.
"I think the fact that he doesn't say much might be part of his character," he said on Monday. "We'll see over the next 10 days. It's useless to make calculations."
(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2008)