Know your opponent: Italy

Love them, hate them..they are the world champions; you may criticize their style for being too defensive (catenaccio) but they have millions of followers who adore this same style on the basis that it reflects highly tactical abilities and team work and most importantly, they are second most successful team in the world cup which the only thing that counts.

In 2006, when France and Italy were playing, a heated debate was going on here in Egypt between France’s and Italy’s fans; some were rooting for les blues because of Zidane and Ribery but others were rooting for Italy just for being the Azzuri and there were a good portion of celebrations when they won.

but things has changed a lot since Italy won that world cup; Lippi left, Donadoni came, Donadoni left, Lippi came and is now building a new team based on young talents like Quagliarella, Rossi, Santon, Montolivo……etc.

during the Donadoni era, the team has gone through many ups and downs risking qualification to euro 2008 tournament but they managed to make it in their last match against Scotland and during the tournament itself the results weren’t as satisfying as the Azzuri fans expected; however, since Lippi’s return things are going for the better and the confederations cup is going to be his first real test.

Take a look at their last world cup campaign

Team roster

GOALKEEPERS: Amelia (Palermo), Buffon (Juventus), De Sanctis (Galatasaray).

DEFENDERS: Cannavaro (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), Dossena (Liverpool), Gamberini (Fiorentina), Grosso (Lione), Legrottaglie (Juventus), Santon (Inter), Zambrotta (Milan).

MIDFIELDERS: Camoranesi (Juventus), De Rossi (Roma), Gattuso (Milan), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Palombo (Sampdoria), Pirlo (Milan).

STRIKERS: Gilardino (Fiorentina), Iaquinta (Juventus), Pepe (Udinese), Quagliarella (Napoli), Rossi (Villarreal), Toni (Bayern Monaco).

Team preview

Obviously the team has lost one of its main qualities which is home grown players; when they won the world cup all the players were playing In Serie A but now there is a mix of Europe’s leagues in the team.

Goalkeeping

Buffon, the best goal keeper in the world; this will e a tough test

Defense

a mix of youth and experience with the best defender in the world in 2006 Cannavaro and stubborn “georgo of the jungle” aka Chiellini; however there will be the ghosts of Grosso and Zambrotta, they aren’t the same players they were in 2006.

Midfield

well, Lippi’s choices are controversial in this particular area of the field; Gattuso has been injured for most of the season and maybe out of form, Palombo too old, Cameronesi isn’t the same Cameronesi; however, midfield has always been where the action is centered for Italy relying on the creativity of Pirlo and the technical abilities of De Rossi.

Attack

this is going to be tricky; Quagliarella and Rossi are two players with high potential and wonderful work along with Toni’s lethal finishing. Not to mention Gilardino and Iaquinta; probably their most powerful line.

Team record

World cup

Winner (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006)

Continental titles

UEFA EURO (1968)

Other

Olympic Football Tournament Final (1936), FIFA Club World Cup (2007)

Head to head record

Egypt – Italy: 1/2 (Cairo, 13/11/1953, world cup qualifiers)
Italy – Egypt: 5/1 (Milan, 24/1/1954, world cup qualifiers)

Last match

Hopefully they won’t sing the azzuro after our match!!