The Road to South Africa

A glance at the table suggests that Italy qualified from a not very difficult group rather easily. And yet when you examine things more closely it seems it was a bit of a struggle for the Azzurri. Only once, in their final game at home to Cyprus did the Italians score more than twice – and that may have been because in Parma, the Cypriots were leading 2-0 after 48 minutes. Italy’s two most formidable opponents were Bulgaria and an Ireland side managed by their former boss, Giovanni Trapattoni. Three of those matches were drawn and it was only by knocking over the also-rans that the holders qualified in such comfort.

The Star Players

Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina) As those who saw him score the stoppage-time winner at Anfield in this season’s Champions League can confirm, Gilardino has a habit of scoring late. It was his 89th-minute equaliser against Ireland that confirmed Italy would be going to South Africa and he topped it off with a hat-trick in the last 13 minutes against Cyprus.

Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus) At the age of 36, this will surely be the great defender’s final adventure for an Italian team he first graced 13 years ago. To lift the World Cup in Johannesburg and Berlin will be a huge achievement for a player who became the symbol of Italian football in 2006 after the shame of calciopoli.

Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus) Tall and powerful in the air, he is not a typical Italian striker but proved in the last World Cup, where he sometimes operated on the wing, that he can be a very effective one. His absence with injury may have contributed to a disappointing Italian performance in Euro 2008.

The Coach

Marcello Lippi In football you are always told never to come back to a team. The urbane, cigar smoking Lippi has ignored this advice twice and prospered. After an unsuccessful spell with Inter Milan he returned to Juventus, where he had reached three successive Champions League finals between 1996 and 1998, and took them to another final that was lost to AC Milan in 2003. Likewise, having steered Italy to their fourth World Cup in a campaign in which his side improved throughout the tournament, he returned after Roberto Donadoni’s dismissal following a poor Euro 2008. Lippi has likened managing a team to being in charge of a family but his critics say he has been too loyal to the men of 2006.

Honours

World Cup: Winners 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006. Finalists 1970, 1994. Semi-finalists 1990.
European Championship: Winners 1968. Finalists 2000.

Analysis

In the modern era only Brazil in 1962 have retained the World Cup. Generally, France in 2002 aside, the holders have always made the knockout stages and two, Argentina in 1990 and Brazil eight years later, have reached the final. Italy will do well to get that far. Granted, their group is simple enough but this is an ageing side without a great deal of fresh blood to invigorate the men who judged their World Cup campaign brilliantly in 2006. Should Italy win the group, as many expect, their likeliest opponents in the round of 16 are either Cameroon or Denmark in Pretoria. However, although Lippi’s men might back themselves to cross that hurdle, Spain, who knocked them out of Euro 2008 in the quarter-finals should await them in Johannesburg. And Italy will need all their experience to negotiate that.

Verdict

Squad (3.5/5)
It is essentially the same team that won the World Cup in 2006, which brings advantages in terms of experience and problems in terms of age.

Coach (5/5)
By winning the Champions League, the World Cup and the Scudetto, Lippi has already established himself as one of his country’s greatest coaches. A repeat would place him as one of the all-time greats.

Attack (3/5)
Luca Toni, Iaquinta, and Inzaghi are a formidable combination but many would prefer a few younger models.

Defence (4/5)
Nobody defends like the Italians and the experience gained in Serie A and for the Azzurri will be brought to bear in this campaign.