World Cup Team Checks: Italy
April 1, 2006
World Cup qualifiers
The Italian team of stars and hungry up-and-coming players made for a secure World Cup qualification. The Italians confidently mastered Group 5 of the European zone. Seven wins, two draws and just one defeat against Slovenia (0:1) was the final outcome.
Stars
There are several. The Italian team, or "Squadra Azzurra" is studded with well-known players: goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, defense cracks Alessandro Nesta and Fabio Cannavaro, midfield aces Francesco Totti and Andrea Pirlo, and, of course, top striker Alessandro del Piero.
Trainer
Marcello Lippi took over the Italian team from Giovanni Trapattoni after its botched showing in the European Cup 2004. Italy at that time dropped out in the preliminary round already. The experienced Lippi, who raked in several titles as Juventus Turin's coach, has since gradually built up a younger, more offensive team.
World Cup History
Italy is participating in the World Cup for the sixteenth time.
1934: World Champions, 1938: World Champions, 1950: Preliminary round, 1954: Preliminary round, 1962: Preliminary round, 1966: Preliminary round, 1970: Runner-up, 1974: Preliminary round, 1978: Fourth place, 1982: World Champions, 1986: Round of 16, 1990: Third place, 1994: Runner-up, 1998: Quarter-finals, 2002: Round of 16
Match Schedule: Preliminary Round
June 12, 2006: Italy -- Ghana in Hanover
June 17, 2006: Italy -- United States in Kaiserslautern
June 22, 2006: Czech Republic -- Italy in Hamburg
World Cup Base
The Italian team will have its base in the Ruhr Basin. The Italians are lodging in Duisburg during the World Cup.
Outlook
Italy is a regular at World Cup tournaments. It belongs to the most successful soccer nations in the world, with three world titles so far. Italy last won the cup in 1982 in Spain (3:1 against Germany). In 2006, Italy is going for its fourth World Cup title. Marcello Lippi's team is certainly strong enough to at least play an important role at the World Cup.