WORLD CUP 2006
Italy
Introduction
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When it comes to a World Cup, all Italy expects. Even if coach Marcello Lippi does not much like the observation (see interview), the fact is that most Italians feel anything less than a semi-final finish is a failure.
The excellent form shown by Lippi’s side over the past 18 months has added to the weight of expectation. Italy comfortably qualified for the finals from a relatively easy group (Norway and Scotland were their strongest opponents) and then took the scalps of Holland and Germany in prestige friendlies last November and this March respectively.
The Azzurri were unbeaten in 16 games during the past year and a half, and their good form has, according to one opinion poll, convinced 48.3 per cent of Italians that their national team can make it to the Final in Berlin.
With reservations, the optimism is justified. Italy are certainly sure to be a tough, competitive unit. Under Lippi, they are unlikely to play champagne football, but they are equally unlikely to reproduce the dismal, negative attitude they showed when making humiliating but deserved early exits from both the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004.
For the Italy-bashers, for those who believe Italian football can never be anything other than negative, cynical and over-defensive, Lippi’s side may come as a rude surprise. If things go to plan, the team may perform more like the Lippi-coached Juventus of the mid-1990s than the Italy of the past two major tournaments
With such players as Gianluigi Buffon, Alessandro Nesta, Fabio Cannavaro and Gianluca Zambrotta in defence, Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso and Mauro Camoranesi in midfield, and Luca Toni and Alberto Gilardino in attack, the side looks to be a reasonable blend of experience, craft and guile.
The reservations are linked to some obvious considerations. For a start, in away qualifying games against Slovenia, Norway and Scotland, Italy drew twice and lost once (against Slovenia), giving performances that lacked personality. Does the recent good run mean the side have now found it?
Lippi’s insistence on the group ethic and workrate means that the side will tend to grind it out rather than send up fireworks. Even if Real Madrid’s Antonio Cassano effectively eliminated himself from the squad by his truculent behaviour before his departure from Roma, is there really no place for clever, creative little strikers such as David Di Michele, Marco Marchionni and Fabrizio Miccoli, or a midfielder like Stefano Fiore?
Thirdly, there is the draw. If Italy make their usual slow start, they will struggle to finish even second in a group that also comprises Ghana, the USA and the Czech Republic. And if they do finish second, the next stop, almost certainly, is Brazil.
It could be, however, that the draw might work in Italy’s favour. Given the tough nature of the group and the desire to avoid Brazil up the road, minds might become wonderfully concentrated. That way, you make a good start, the bandwagon starts rolling, and who knows what may happen?
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