Defending champions Italy will naturally be one of the leading favourites at South Africa 2010.
The only country along with Brazil to have won the tournament twice in succession, Marcello Lippi’s men will be vying to match the performance of their pioneering predecessors in 1934 and 1938.
The road to South Africa
The Azzurri topped Group 8 thanks to their traditional efficiency and pragmatism, even if they failed to set the continent alight along the way. In total, they recorded seven wins and three draws; firing 18 goals and conceding seven. Alberto Gilardino finished as top scorer for Lippi’s team with four goals, including a stunning hat-trick in less than 15 minutes to down Cyprus 3-2 in their final outing.
The star players
Veteran Gianluigi Buffon remains one of the two pillars of the Italian defence, with the evergreen captain Fabio Cannavaro the other leader at the back. In midfield Gennaro Gattuso needs no introduction. The 31-year-old is still the motor, battler and all-round talent at the heart of the Azzurri line-up, the man who never admits defeat and whose hunger for victory inspires all those around him.
The coach
Lippi is an expert at making changes that yield results, with no fewer than five of the 12 goals Italy scored in 2006 coming from substitutes. After the Azzurri floundered at Euro 2008, Lippi returned to the post and immediately set about rebuilding, but puts little stock in his record 31-match unbeaten streak.
Facts
- Italy have qualified for 16 of the 18 FIFA World Cup finals, failing to book themselves a place in 1958 and having not opted to take part in the first edition in 1930.
- They have won the competition on four occasions, in 1934, 1938, 1982 and four years ago in 2006. They also finished as runners-up in 1970 and 1994 and claimed third place on home soil in 1990. — Fifa