Confederations Cup Countdown ITALY

Fri, 29 May 2009

Portfolio Collection

It''s Friday - which means it''s time for the next in our Confederations Cup Countdown series. Today we look at Italy - the team, and our choice for the Team Hottie!

Italy''s Confederations Cup Team

Italy, the 2006 Fifa World Cup winners, produced mixed results in 2008. While the traditional Italian mettle was on show in Euro 2008, where they reached the final before losing 1-0 to Spain, they have been inconsistent, suffering a shock 2-1 defeat to minnows Cyprus.

Through the course of 2008, Italy played 13 matches, won five, drew four, and lost four, including two to world number one Spain.

Regardless of their results, the Italians always bear watching in big competitions; their record over the years is proof of this. Also, with their traditionally miserly defence, and the goalkeeping of Gianluigi Buffon, arguably the best net-minder in the game, they are always in with a chance of winning.

Buffon is the rock at the back for the Azzuri while, in front of him, Fabio Cannavaro, their 2006 World Cup winning captain, is the man who pulls the strings in defence.

After the Italians won the World Cup, Cannavoro was named Fifa World Player of the Year. He then transferred from relegated Juventus to Spanish giants Real Madrid so that he could continue playing in the Uefa Champions League. There, Cannavaro took over the jersey of one of the legends of the game, pulling on the number-five shirt previously worn by Zinedine Zidane.

(Copy source: SouthAfrica.info - original article: Brad Morgan. Creative Commons License)