Italy coach Marcello Lippi has hailed Manchester United's Wayne Rooney as the modern game's model forward.The England striker was booked for a foul in the second half of United's 1-1 draw with South African side Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday and substituted shortly after as it looked like he might get himself sent off.

But Lippi has called for his Italy players to display the same level of passion and commitment as the former Everton man.

"What counts in football, even more than the formation, is the philosophy of the game," the World Cup winning coach told Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport.

"It's the desire of the great players to put themselves at the service of the team when their opponents are in possession of the ball.

"What Rooney does at Manchester."

Lippi returned to the post he left after guiding Italy to World Cup glory two years ago following the dismissal of Roberto Donadoni in the aftermath of Euro 2008.

The Italy coach knows he has a tough task on his hands to turn a squad which failed to live up to expectations at the European Championship back into genuine contenders for the 2010 World Cup.

And he has called for his players to learn from Rooney's grit and determination.

"The first time (in 2006) there was the metaphor of the great hunger," added Lippi. "Now we have to find new motivation.

"The team must feel strong. The important thing is that self-confidence does not become presumption, but there's no risk of that."

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