Azzurri coach Roberto Donadoni demanded respect Thursday after taking heavy flak from the Italian media in the run-up to Wednesday's 2-0 victory over Scotland.
The deserved win, secured by two Luca Toni headers, has boosted Italy's Euro 2008 qualification campaign and dispelled speculation that Donadoni's job is in peril.
Before the clash, some sports pundits suggested Donadoni lacked the leadership skills needed to train the world champs. AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was being tipped as a possible replacement if Italy failed to beat the Scots in Bari.
"I hope there will be more respect for me and for the national team, above all for the team" the former Italy and Milan midfielder said Thursday.
"It is a mistake to forget the good things that have been done and it is unfair on the lads".
The Scotland triumph was Donadoni's third consecutive Euro 2008 triumph.
The winning streak has put Italy's qualification ambitions back on track after a shaky start, when they drew 1-1 at home to Lithuania and lost 3-1 to France in Paris.
Italy are fourth in Euro 2008 Group B with 10 points, just two fewer than joint leaders France, Ukraine and Scotland, and the Scots have played one game more.
Donadoni said the speculation about his future had given him the unpleasant sensation of feeling like a "share price on the stock exchange".
But he added that midfield star Gennaro Gattuso may have been exaggerating when he complained the Italian media had "massacred" the team.
Italy will be confident of picking up six points from their next two games in June, away at group whipping boys the Faroe Islands and second-from-bottom Lithuania.
Then it will be back to the nitty gritty in September when vanquished World Cup finalists France pay a visit and the Azzurri travel to the Ukraine side of former European Footballer of the Year Andriy Shevchenko.
Donadoni warned Italy's rivals Thursday that his men are still hungry for success.
"This national team is not sated by winning the World Cup," the former Livorno boss said.
"Those who play sport cannot afford that luxury. The real turning point will be when we have qualified.
"Italy have a group of players of exceptionally high technical value and they can still improve".
