World Cup Team Preview - Italy

World Cup Group: Group E (Ghana, USA, Czech Republic)

Pooled in Group five, arguably the weakest of the European qualifying groups, the fancied Italian side managed to take their fans on a trademark roller coaster ride throughout the campaign.

With a new manager at the helm, a fresh looking Italian side took to the field to commence their quest for World Cup glory. As Marcello Lippi sought to make his mark on the team, the former Juventus manager rung in the changes, introducing a number of new faces to the Italian squad, including 2005/06 European Golden Boot winner Luca Toni, while reducing the nation’s reliance on established stars Christian Vieri and Alessandro Del Piero.

In stark contrast to Italy’s traditional ‘catenaccio’ style, under Lippi, the ‘Azzurri’ played with an attacking vigour and emphasis on scoring goals that had been absent from the Italian mentality in recent history.

Nonetheless, the Italians commenced their campaign in unconvincing fashion, as they overcame an early deficit against their main rivals in Group five, Norway, before defeating minnows Moldova by the barest of margins thanks to a strike from national team stalwart, Del Piero.

Following that unconvincing performance, Italy stumbled to an embarrassing defeat at the hands of Slovenia, bringing early pressure on Lippi and his new regime. However, the side responded brilliantly as they slotted four past a capable Belarus side and embarked on an unbeaten run, which climaxed with a victory over Moldova in the last day of the qualifying campaign.

Luca Toni repaid the faith shown by Lippi completing the qualifying tournament as the side’s top scorer with four goals.

Players to Watch

Francesco Totti
As the golden boy of Italian football, the fast approaching World Cup grants Totti the chance to shine on football’s grandest stage. Having proved a disappointment at previous international tournaments, Totti has been granted a guaranteed place in Italy’s starting XI, despite his lack of recent match play due to injury.

Playing in the hole behind the attackers, the Roma captain is vital to Italy’s prospects and if he is able to reproduce his club form, the performance of a revitalised Totti may be able to lead the Italians to glory and help end its 24-year championship drought.

Andrea Pirlo
Following the appointment of new manager Lippi, the most vital change he made was the introduction of AC Milan’s midfield anchor Andrea Pirlo. Used sparingly by previous manager Giovanni Trapattoni, Pirlo has proved to be the jewel in the Italian crown, with his presence in the midfield filling the gaping hole that had proved to be the side’s weakness in the past.

A dead ball specialist, Pirlo’s brilliant ball distribution is the key aspect of his game, and although unheralded, along with the likes of Chelsea’s Claude Makelele, he is one of the pre-eminent midfielders in Europe.

Prediction
Finalists-If they come through the group stage unscathed, the Italians have the talent to reach the final.

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