Italy coach Marcello Lippi has assured Bologna striker Marco Di Vaio that he's in his thoughts.

Referring to Di Vaio's hat-trick yesterday, Lippi said: "He's doing very well after some difficult years. I'm happy for him.

"It is good that there are now many players who are doing good things: there are even players with dual passports that are candidates (for Italy). Everyone, from 18 to 40 years, I must dream about the Azzurri.

"After 2002 and 2004 it seemed there was disaffection against the shirt. Now that's changed, but in the end I cannot call 50 players."