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Italy - Team Profile
28/05/2006
Italy qualified rather easily from their group to attend this World Cup and as usual The Azzurri have a good chance of prolonging their stay in the tournament if not winning the competition outright. Marcello Lippi's Italy provide a much different challenge though to the defensive minded sides sent out in previous tournaments and with a 4-3-3 formation the onus will be on forward play with Serie A top scorer Luca Toni in the vanguard. The Fiorentina hit man will be one of the first names on the team sheet and his physical presence can upset any centre-back pairing.
Toni is a key player without doubt but the chief inspiration for Italy remains Francesco Totti. The Roman striker inspired his team to a record-breaking run in Serie A this season before succumbing to an ankle injury. According to Pele he is the most influential player in the world at present, which is an incredible accolade bearing in mind stiff competition from the likes of Ronaldhino, Rooney and the rest. Other strike options include Vincenzo Iaquinta or the Milan stars Alberto Gilardino and Filipo Inzaghi with the latter having just comeback off the long-term injured list. Meanwhile at Juventus Alessandro Del Pierro will be keen to show that he is not yesterday's man and providing he can stay injury free he is likely to make the trip. With only three in midfield there is a good deal of responsibility with those selected and it is expected that former Rangers man Rino Gattuso and Juventus star Mauro Camoranesi will have to work hard in their respective positions to make up for any numerical disadvantage.
The midfielder most likely to orchestrate play is Andrea Pirlo who has terrific vision and will rival David Beckham for ability from set-pieces. The retirement of Paolo Maldini has left something of a void at the back for The Azzurri , but Fabio Cannavaro and Alessandro Nesta, while not having the same aura as Maldini are both good footballers who will try and play themselves out of trouble. Gianluca Zambrotta and Chiellini, the two Juventus full-back's are likely to get the nod and it is expected that Zambrotta in particular will try hard to overlap Camoranesi down Italy's right flank to provide another attacking option. Lack of stature in the whole team and back four particularly may raise a question mark about the side's ability to deal with crosses and it is just as well that in Gianluigi Buffon the side has one of the best keepers in world football. In a difficult group Italy will have to forgo their usual quiet start to make progress and this focus may just be what the side needs to forge good team spirit before the business end of the tournament.
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Comments on: Italy - Team Profile
13/06/2006: The whole team is highly skilled and talented, as long as they work together they will be bring the World Cup home. Forza Azzurri!
12/07/2006: italy r da best
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