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The Italians have won two World Cups prior to the 2nd World War after which they won two more. Paolo Rossi's stupendous tournament in 1982 helped the Italians to their first trophy in over 40 years. 2006 was a catastrophic year for Italian football as it was hit by the Calciopoli scandal but under Marcello Lippi the Azzuri conquered the World albeit in controversial circumstances to lift the trophy in Berlin.
Ranked 5th in the world according to FIFA's ranking system. Italy are the favourites in a relatively easy Group F which also consists of Paraguay, Slovenia and New Zealand. Paraguay had a impressive qualification campaign, but considering the quality of the Italians, one wouldn't be too concerned.
The Italians were undefeated in their qualification group winning 7 and drawing 3 of their 10 games. They scored 18 goals and conceded 7 on their way to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2010. The Azzuri's group consisted of the Republic of Ireland, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Montenegro and Georgia.
Italy participated in the FIFA Confederations Cup and despite a strong opening to their campaign, the Azzurri were knocked out in the Group Stage of the competition following defeats at the hands of Brazil and Egypt.
The Italians kick start their title defence against Paraguay and one would expect them to come out easy winners. Encounters against Slovenia and New Zealand shouldn't prove to be too testing unless the Italian come up with a way of hurting themselves.
Key Players:
Antonio Di Natale had one of his best club season's scoring 29 goals and topping the charts in Serie A. The 32 year old was largely off the international scene until Roberto Donadoni brought him in for the Euro 2008 qualifiers. The Udinese forward will be hoping that he is able to carry forward his club form to the greatest stage of them all.
Andrea Pirlo is considered one of the best midfielders in Europe and rightly so. AC Milan didn't have a great season but Pirlo's performances in the last World Cup make him a man to watch. His role of a deep lying anchorman is essential to Lippi's style of play and another mammoth showing will be expected from the 30-year old.
Fabio Cannavaro was pivotal to Italy's success in 2006. The centre half collected both the FIFA World Player of the Year and European Footballer of the Year awards that season and earned himself a big money move to Real Madrid. Back in Italy with Juventus, Cannavaro has had an ordinary season, but would want to end it on a high.
Team:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari)
Defenders: Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan), Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Leonardo Bonucci (Bari), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa)
Midfielders: Andrea Pirlo (Milan), Gennaro Gattuso (Milan), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Simone Pepe (Udinese)
Forwards: Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria).
Head Coach: Marcello Lippi
Top Goal Scorers: Alberto Gilardino (16), Antonio Di Natale (9)
Most Capped Players: Fabio Cannavaro (132), Gianluigi Buffon (100)
Form Guide (DLDWD)
Nov 14, Italy 0-0 Netherlands
Nov 18, Italy 1-0 Sweden
Mar 03, Italy 0-0 Cameroon
Jun 3, Mexico 2-1 Italy
Jun 5, Switzerland 1-1 Italy
Fixtures:
14-Jun: Italy vs. Paraguay 7:30pm (GMT) - Match Report
20-Jun: Italy vs New Zealand 3:00pm (GMT) - Match Report
24-Jun: Slovakia vs. Italy 3:00pm (GMT) - Match Report
Team Trivia
Before the 1938 World Cup final match between Italy and Hungary, the Italian players received a telegraph from Rome which read 'Win or die!' Fortunately the team won and did not have to discover whether the message was a hoax or not.
Also Read:
Group Competitior Previews: Paraguay,Slovakia, New Zealand
File Photograph Copyright: Ryu Voelkel
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