Italy coach Roberto Donadoni refused to give up his post though being heavily criticized after the world champions quarterfinal exit from Euro 2008.

The Azzurri suffered a 4-2 shootout defeat to Spain on Sunday after a dull 0-0 draw on 120 minutes, and the consensus in the Italian media on Monday has commanded a resignation of Donadoni and asked World Cup winning coach Marcello Lippi to return.

"I don't know if you guys have fresher news than me. But I'm calm without worries about it," Donadoni told a press conference in Italy's training base at Baden, Austria starting 1100 local time on Monday.

"I've not seen the reason I should resign. That seemed an excessive request," he said. "I don't see why decisions like this should be made on a game won or lost on penalties."