The excitement is building as we get closer to opening match of the 2010 World Cup. The Great Tournament is less than two weeks away and the anticipation of the 1st African World Cup is building, its going to be great. We start Group F with the defending World Champions, Italy.

OFFICIAL NAME: Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio



NICKNAME: Azzurri

FIFA CONFEDERATION: UEFA (Europe)

FIFA CODE: ITA

HOW THEY QUALIFIED: 1st place in Group 8 of UEFA WC qualifying

WORLD CUP APPEARANCES (INCLUDING 2010): 17

BEST WC FINISH: 4x Champions, Current WC Trophy Holders

WORLD CUP RECORD (MP: Wins - Draws - Losses): 77:44W - 19D - 14L

HEAD COACH: Marcelo Lippi

MOST CAPPED PLAYER (# of caps): Fabio Cannavaro (132)

ALL-TIME GOAL SCORING LEADER (# of goals): Luigi Riva (35)

BRIEF FOOTBALLING HISTORY:
The Italians place in world football is locked as one of the Top 3 nations in history. The 4-Time Champions haven't missed out on a World Cup since Sweden 1958 and they were 1st team to repeat as World Cup champions with titles in 1934 & 1938. Italy has appeared in 6 WC final matches and have the 3rd most World Cup match victories all-time. Italy's greatness has been homegrown with its players working in the top division of Italian football known as the Serie A and the national team has never had a non-Italian coach.

PLAYER TO WATCH:
Italy's player to watch has been compared to World Cup winner of Italy's past. He is Claudio Marchisio.
(Photo FIGC-Andrea Staccioli)
The Juventus FC player also known as "Il Principino" aka The Little Prince is Italy's most versatile midfielder and has been compared to 1982 World Cup winner, Marco Tardelli. Marchisio will be looked upon by coach Marcelo Lippi as Italy's main playmaker, an important role since veteran playmaker Francesco Totti has been out of the national team picture for a long time.

OUTLOOK:
The Azzurri will always be a favorite to win the trophy. Under Marcelo Lippi, Italy plays a complete brand of team football with an emphasis on defense. Italians will be nearly impenetrable defensively and efficient offensively, anything less than a quarterfinal would be a failure.

FINAL 23-MAN WC ROSTER:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari)

Defenders: Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa), Leonardo Bonucci (Bari), Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan)

Midfielders: Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan)

Forwards: Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria), Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli)

WC GROUP SCHEDULE:
June 14 vs. Paraguay
June 20 vs. New Zealand
June 24 vs. Slovakia

Group F Breakdowns continue with the Kiwis.