| Italy are second only to Brazil when it comes to | | | | In fact many of the players from the victorious 2006 |
| success in the FIFA World Cup, and the current side | | | | side are expected to return to World Cup action in |
| secured qualification to the 2010 tournament in South | | | | 2010. The average age for the current Italian team |
| Africa on October 10th 2009 with a draw against the | | | | members is higher than many other nations, with just |
| Irish Republic. They will be defending the crown they | | | | 4 of the 22 players who are regular team members |
| won in Germany in 2006. | | | | under the age of 25. |
| Italy has won the World Cup four times and has | | | | After the 2006 World Cup, manager Marcello Lippi |
| given the entire soccer world some of the finest | | | | decided not to renew his contract and retire from |
| moments international soccer has ever seen. | | | | soccer management. However, under the |
| Under the leadership of legendary manager Vittorio | | | | management of his replacement, Roberto Donadini, |
| Pozzo the Italian national side won the first two | | | | the side faltered, failing to make it out of the |
| World Cup competitions in which they competed, | | | | quarterfinals at the 2008 European Championships. |
| 1934 and 1938, so it is not unheard of for a side to | | | | After that disappointing result, Donadini was fired and |
| successfully defend their World Cup title as the | | | | Lippi coaxed out of retirement to rebuild team morale |
| current side hopes to. They also won the tournament | | | | in time for 2010, a feat he seems to have achieved |
| in 1982. | | | | rather well if their qualifying campaign is any result. |
| The most capped player in the history of the Italian | | | | For the 2010 Cup, Italy was drawn into Group F with |
| national team is still a member of the current team. | | | | Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia. This particular |
| Fabio Cannavaro of Juventus will be almost 37 years | | | | group shapes up to be one of the easiest groups of |
| old in June 2010, and has received a record 132 caps | | | | the eight first-round groups, and Italy clearly has to |
| since making his debut on an international level in | | | | be the favorite to finish in the top two and advance |
| 1997. He was the captain of the victorious 2006 | | | | to the second round. |
| squad. | | | | |