Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni remained defiant today after his team's early exit from Euro 2004, refusing to resign and saying his team were "among the top four or five in Europe".
Trapattoni's contract with Italy runs out on July 15 and he is widely expected to be replaced but he declined invitations to resign before a meeting of the Italian Football Federation on Friday.
"It is not a matter for me," he told a news conference. "My motto is don't give up."
The Italy coach said he did not want to get involved in the heated discussions that followed the 2-2 draw between Denmark and Sweden which ensured Italy finished third in Group C despite their 2-1 win over Bulgaria.
"I think I was clear before the game when I said that those players from the north, have a certain sporting ethic and I don't think they would play a game in the manner in which you are underlining," he said.
"Leave me out of that way of thinking."
Filed by Aidan O'Doherty
