``I have never said I will stop. But I have a meeting on Tuesday with the Italian Football Federation so we will see,'' Lippi said at a press conference.

``Whatever my next job is, whether it's with the national team or not, I hope to have the same relationship with the players that I've had here,'' Lippi said.

Italy came into the World Cup in Germany under a cloud, with four top clubs including reigning champion Juventus embroiled in a match-fixing scandal, but the team gained in strength with each round of the tournament.

Lippi said his players had realised they could win the World Cup once they topped their first-round group.

``We said we are not going to let this opportunity pass us by. And once we got into the semifinal we knew everything was possible,'' Lippi said.

Italy's players chanted ``Marcello don't leave us'' all through the night. ``Not only on the plane. In the locker room, everywhere,'' Lippi said. — Agencies

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