Italian FA want Lippi to stay on after World Cup

Italy are keen to extend coach Marcello Lippi's contract beyond next year's World Cup finals, federation president Franco Carraro said yesterday.

"Lippi is doing an exceptional job. If he would like to extend his contract beyond 2006, the Federation would be very favourable,"

the FIGC head told reporters yesterday.

Lippi's current deal expires in July 2006, immediately after the World Cup in Germany.

He said he was pleased the subject had been raised but doubted anything would be discussed seriously before the finals.

"I don't believe we'll talk about it before the World Cup because we'll need to see how things go there," said the former Juventus boss.

Lippi took over from Giovanni Trapattoni in July last year, when morale in the national side was low following their early exit from Euro 2004.

Italy are now unbeaten in their last 14 matches and Lippi's popularity stands at a new high after Italy's 3-1 win over the Netherlands in an international friendly at the weekend.

Italy have won 11 out of 18 matches under his guidance and lost just twice - a friendly against Iceland that was Lippi's first game in charge and a World Cup qualifier away against Slovenia.

Italy enjoyed an otherwise smooth World Cup qualifying campaign, sealing their place in Germany with a match to spare - the first time they have achieved the feat since qualifying for the 1982 World Cup in Spain, which they went on to win.

Italy can rack up a fifth consecutive win by beating the Ivory Coast in a friendly in Geneva today.