The excitement in football once again kicks off in South Africa as the biggest show on earth is ready to give the fans a fast paced action pack multitude of games. The last time the World Cup showed its wares was 2006 when Italy were crowned champions. While there will be familiar faces in the Italian lineup most of them have aged and will show signs of slowing down.
Despite half of the teams lineup undergoing a change the Italians will still wear their trademark blue football shirts and football shorts that would instill some fighting spirit to the gritty Italian team. Although pundits are putting off the Italian teams title run this year they will still bring out there fighting form and try to win as much games so they can qualify for the semifinals.
The Italian team being grouped with Slovakia, New Zealand and Paraguay has called the services of the same coach that steered them to victory in 2006. Marcello Lippi taking some time off from coaching football after the successful 2006 campaign comes back at the forefront of the Azurris and tries once more to bring home the bacon. Even though he would have to contend with an aging lineup the team will respond well with Lippi steering them a game at a time.
The players who would be coming back for another title run includes Gigi Buffon the consistent goal keeper of the squad who because of his huge contributions manning that important spot has kept the adversaries from scoring off the Italian team. Playing for the Juventus football club in Italy, Buffon is considered the number 1 goal keeper of the Italian league.
Another stalwart who is returning to the lineup of Team Italy is Fabio Cannavaro the defensive demon who made some key defensive moves in Italy's journey to the 2006 World Cup championship. Now more than ever he would be called upon to lend some leadership on some of the new blood that were added to the lineup. Teaming up with Cannavaro at the defensive end is another returning player in the person of Mauro Camoranesi the two will have to step up to bring out that gem of a defensive strategy in order to start a domino effect on the other players.
Even though the Italian team holds a pattern of winning the World Cup every 12 years this year's team would be hard pressed on winning again simply because age has become a liability in a team that is trying to return to glory once again. Let's see what fighting spirit the men in the blue football shirts and football shorts bring in 2010.
Despite half of the teams lineup undergoing a change the Italians will still wear their trademark blue football shirts and football shorts that would instill some fighting spirit to the gritty Italian team. Although pundits are putting off the Italian teams title run this year they will still bring out there fighting form and try to win as much games so they can qualify for the semifinals.
The Italian team being grouped with Slovakia, New Zealand and Paraguay has called the services of the same coach that steered them to victory in 2006. Marcello Lippi taking some time off from coaching football after the successful 2006 campaign comes back at the forefront of the Azurris and tries once more to bring home the bacon. Even though he would have to contend with an aging lineup the team will respond well with Lippi steering them a game at a time.
The players who would be coming back for another title run includes Gigi Buffon the consistent goal keeper of the squad who because of his huge contributions manning that important spot has kept the adversaries from scoring off the Italian team. Playing for the Juventus football club in Italy, Buffon is considered the number 1 goal keeper of the Italian league.
Another stalwart who is returning to the lineup of Team Italy is Fabio Cannavaro the defensive demon who made some key defensive moves in Italy's journey to the 2006 World Cup championship. Now more than ever he would be called upon to lend some leadership on some of the new blood that were added to the lineup. Teaming up with Cannavaro at the defensive end is another returning player in the person of Mauro Camoranesi the two will have to step up to bring out that gem of a defensive strategy in order to start a domino effect on the other players.
Even though the Italian team holds a pattern of winning the World Cup every 12 years this year's team would be hard pressed on winning again simply because age has become a liability in a team that is trying to return to glory once again. Let's see what fighting spirit the men in the blue football shirts and football shorts bring in 2010. Italy are the defending champions. Next to Brazil, they have the best record at the World Cup, having qualified for all but 2 of the 19, so far.
They went unbeaten in the qualifiers, winning seven and drawing three. They are expected to top group F, where they should have it relatively easy with only Paraguay likely to mount any kind of challenge to their supremacy. The others in the group are inexperienced New Zealand and Slovakia.
The experienced Fabio Cannavaro (130 caps) and legendary goalkeeper, Buffon, are among the stars that make Italy the formidable outfit they are. Among other players to watch are Gilardino, who top scored in the qualifiers, and midfielder, Gattuso, who has the talent to convert into a striker when his team requires.
Marcello Lippi, Italy's coach, is confident that his team is the best in the world. In the last couple of decades, Italy have been accused of being defensive, and in a recent friendly against Cameroon, their failure to score underlined this.
Apart from his bluster, Lippi could also be faulted for ignoring striker Balotelli, who was on a goal scoring spree in 2009, for Inter Milan.
Italy are likely to face either Cameroon or Denmark, in the round of 16, and their entry into the quarter-final appears assured, where they are likely to face their first strong challenge, from favourites Spain. If they get past that hurdle, they are likely to run into Germany in the semi-final. This is the biggest stage of all - the World Cup. Can Italy retain their crown?
They went unbeaten in the qualifiers, winning seven and drawing three. They are expected to top group F, where they should have it relatively easy with only Paraguay likely to mount any kind of challenge to their supremacy. The others in the group are inexperienced New Zealand and Slovakia.
The experienced Fabio Cannavaro (130 caps) and legendary goalkeeper, Buffon, are among the stars that make Italy the formidable outfit they are. Among other players to watch are Gilardino, who top scored in the qualifiers, and midfielder, Gattuso, who has the talent to convert into a striker when his team requires.
Marcello Lippi, Italy's coach, is confident that his team is the best in the world. In the last couple of decades, Italy have been accused of being defensive, and in a recent friendly against Cameroon, their failure to score underlined this.
Apart from his bluster, Lippi could also be faulted for ignoring striker Balotelli, who was on a goal scoring spree in 2009, for Inter Milan.
Italy are likely to face either Cameroon or Denmark, in the round of 16, and their entry into the quarter-final appears assured, where they are likely to face their first strong challenge, from favourites Spain. If they get past that hurdle, they are likely to run into Germany in the semi-final. This is the biggest stage of all - the World Cup. Can Italy retain their crown?
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