Italy coach Marcello Lippi was happy with the team's performance and result in the 0-0 draw away to Bulgaria in tonight's World Cup qualifier.

Following the goalless draw against Bulgaria in Italy's third World Cup qualifying match tonight in Sofia, coach Marcello Lippi was nevertheless satisfied with his new-look side's performance.

"We played with authority and character," he said. "The lads tried to win in every possible way, they didn't manage it, but Bulgaria have a lot of quality, so this is a good result."

The Azzurri remain top of their qualifying group with 7 points from three games after this match, which saw the debuts of both Simone Pepe and Giuseppe Rossi.

"I had seen that there was a good rapport between the new players and the more experienced ones, so I had expected a good team performance," Lippi continued. "Both generations of players did well, Gianluca Zambrotta did very well against a tough opponent like Martin Petrov, and Andrea Dossena was also impressive.

"There were very few shots on target, but numerous crosses into the box and good chances, like when [Giuseppe] Rossi played it to [Alberto] Gilardino, whose first touch let him down. It's tough to force a breakthrough in games like this."

Lippi is now on 29 consecutive matches without defeat as Azzurri coach, just one match away from equalling the record of two-time World Cup winner Vittorio Pozzo.

Italy's next match is on Wednesday evening in Lecce, where they welcome Montenegro in their next World Cup qualification match.