Italy Soccer Team – The Azzurri team

Italy soccer team or most commonly known the Azzurri team is one of the best soccer team in FIFA World Cup history. Team members are; Alessandro Costacurta, Alessandro Del Piero, Alessandro Nesta, Christian Vieri,Dino Zoff, Franco Baresi, Francesco Totti, Gianni Rivera, Gianfranco Zola, Giampiero Boniperti, Gianluigi Buffon, Giancinto Facchetti, Giuseppe Bergomi, Giuseppe Meazza, Gigi Riva, Paolo Maldini, Paolo Rossi, Roberto Baggio, Sandro Mazzola, Silvio Piola, and last but not the list Valentino Mazzola.

Azzurri team means “azure” or blue the traditional color of the Italian team. It has a connection to the Italian dynasty since 1861when Italy was unified. Azzurri marked to the people of Italy and used it as nickname of Italian National football team.

Italy Soccer Team built to World Cup history as one the successful football team in the world. They won the title at 1934, 1938, 1982 and the latest was 2006 in World Cup competition. As of latest ranking of FIFA, Italy at 3rd place, Argentina has its constantly on top, Brazil at 2nd and Spain at its 4th place.

In 1970 and 1994 they become the runner-up, third place in 1990 and fourth placer at year 1978 in FIFA World Cup History.

Italian soccer fans show their extreme support to the Azzurri team. They have the Azzurro shirt, they have azzurri clubs and azzurri web pages where you will found out all you want to know about the team.

For 2010 World Cup which will be held at South Africa, Italy is the current World Champions. Italy strongly believes that they will make it again and will give their best to win the Cup.

Totti to make Azzurri return

Francesco Totti’s physiotherapist has hinted that the playmaker could be making a return to the Italian national team as the Roma midfielder tries to recover from his injury.

Totti has not played for the Azzurri since the 2006 World Cup final win over France at which point he announced his retirement from the national team, but following Lippi’s return as Azzurri coach and Italy’s disappointing exit from the Euros, the midfield player’s physio is not ruling out a return to the national team once the player is fit.

The Physio stated that “He has postponed thinking about that because at the moment he is just trying to get back to fitness.” The 31-year-old snapped his anterior cruciate ligament during a match against Livorno at the end of April.

Euro 2008 Prematch Analysis: Spain vs Italy Live Online

Euro 2008 Championships, Quarter Final
Teams: Spain vs Italy
Date and Time: Sunday 22 June 2008, 20:45 CET
Venue: Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna
Match official: Herbert Fandel

Youthful Exuberance

The Spanish team whose average age is approximately 24 have been in no uncertain terms fabulous throughout the Euros with a host of young players that are at the top of their game and ready to lay their tag as the “biggest underachievers” to rest and at the helm is coach Luis Aragones. They qualified for the quarter finals of Euro 2008 with maximum points from three games; finishing top of Group D. They have scored eight goals in three games, and will go into this match as favorites to progress to the semi-finals.

We have seen on many occasions that Spain are not capable of playing as they can when it really matters and the question on everyone’s lips is; will Spain fail to deliver when it really matters?
This was the case at the last World Cup, when Spain played some delightful football in the group stages, only to then lose 3-1 to France in the second round.

The Spanish are certainly in better form than their Azzurri opponents, but they have a dreadful competitive record against their Italy. There is also the small matter of the June 22 curse. It is important to note that Spain has been eliminated three major tournaments on penalties on this date in recent times, losing to Belgium at World Cup ’86, England at Euro ’96, and South Korea at World Cup 2002.

Slow Starters

The Italians have always been slow starters in every major tournament and Euro 2008 was no exception; the Azzurri confirmed their place in the quarter finals of Euro 2008 with a 2-0 victory over France in a repeat of the 2006 world cup final; after losing 3-0 to Holland and drawing 1-1 with Romania.
Roberto Donadoni’s men were much improved against Les Bleus, and they will now be hoping that they have started to hit form at just the right time.

Italy is also a team that plays when they should and it is no doubt Spain are in for the fight of their tournament when they face the Azzurri.

A Look at the teams

Spain

Defender Carles Puyol was thought to be a doubt for this game due to injury, however he will be fit enough to start. Luis Aragones will bring back all of his key players after resting many of them during Spain’s final group game against Greece on Wednesday.

Possible Starting XI: Casillas; Ramos, Puyol, Marchena, Capdevila; Senna; Iniesta, Xavi, Silva; Villa, Torres

Italy

The AC Milan-duo Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo are suspended. Coach Donadoni will probably choose his best four from Daniele De Rossi, Simone Perrotta, Alberto Aquilani, Massimo Ambrosini and Mauro Camoranesi to replace them. Defender Andrea Barzagli picked up an injury in training on Thursday and is out for the rest of the tournament.

Possible Starting XI: Buffon; Zambrotta, Panucci, Chiellini, Grosso; Camoranesi, Ambrosini, De Rossi, Perrotta; Cassano, Toni

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Spain

Fernando Torres: Coming off an outstanding club season for Liverpool, Torres has been overshadowed at Euro 2008 by his strike partner David Villa; however the 24-year-old has the pace and trickery to trouble the Italy backline if he is afforded the space to do so. This could open up space for Villa who is Euro 2008 leading goal scorer on 4 goals.

Italy

Luca Toni: The Bayern Munich hit man has failed to score in Euro 2008 so far and missed numerous chances in the 2-0 win over France. However he has played well and many feel it is only a matter of time until he finds the back of the net. If anyone is to score against Spain surely it will be Toni. With his height, ball control and skill; the Spanish defense will not stand a chance if he is given a proper supply of the ball and with Pirlo out, it could be up to him.

PREDICTION

This game will certainly be close and one should not rule out the possibility of extra time or even penalties. Clinical finishing could a major difference between both teams. With Pirlo and Gattuso out for Italy they really have no antidote for the Spanish attacking midfield. It will be tight but the youthful Spanish will conquer.

Spain 2-1 Italy

Watch Spain vs Italy Live Online

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“The Azzurri will do just fine without me”- Cannavaro

After suffering a knock on his ankle that will see him missing world champions Italy Euro 2008 campaign due to a collision with teammate Giorgio Chiellini, the Italian captain and 2006 World Player of the Year Fabio Cannavaro has stated that Italy will do fine without him in their quest to be Champions of Europe and Champions of the World in Euro 2008.

The 34-year-old was on Wednesday successfully operated on in the Austrian capital of Vienna by Azzurri doctor Andrea Ferretti after which the Italian captain expressed his gratefulness to Dr. Ferretti following the operation.After he was discharged from hospital, Cannavaro joined up with the Azzurri, including his replacement Alessandro Gamberini, in order to offer them support during the Euros.

Cannavaro has openly refuted any such claims that Italy’s defense will struggle without him and stated that “We have players with great experience, such as Marco Materazzi, Andrea Barzagli, Giorgio Chiellini and Alessandro Gamberini,” he outlined that are capable of getting the job done and further stated “I do not think I have to give out any great advice.” The world champions are in Group C which is called by many the “Group of Death” as it contains beaten world cup 2006 Finalist France, Romania and Netherlands which Italy will play on June 09 in their opener.