
Will Italy be able to defend the title of World Champion? I hope so!
Today Italy plays against Paraguay. This match will be an important test for the Azzurri that want to show that they are still alive! The World Champions, especially coach Lippi, continue to be criticized by Italian press because they are considered too old for this competition, meanwhile bookmakers consider Italy as the winner of the match against Paraguay.

Skepticism reigns in Italy, but this situation is very similar to the 2006 one, when Italian football was involved into Calciopoli. But that scandal was the essential ingredient that brings Italy to win the World Cup. The spirit of the group, all players felt united and this helped them to reach the final victory 4 years ago!
I think that it’s very very difficult to repeat for the Azzurri, because people change, players get older and new young players can pay their inexperience in this kind of competition. Also there were disputes in my country due to Lippi’s choices…For example, everybody wanted in our national team players like Balotelli, Cassano, Ambrosini, Miccoli and Cossu instead of Cannavaro, Camoranesi, Gattuso, Zambrotta, Iaquinta that played very bad this year and they didn’t deserve to go to South Africa.

However, all Italians are waiting for today to watch the World Champions in their first match against a difficult team as Paraguay. De Rossi will play, while Pirlo is still injured…So the 11 Azzurri that will probably play are: BUFFON (goalkeeper), ZAMBROTTA-CANNAARO-CHIELLINI-BOCCHETTI (defense), DE ROSSI-MONTOLIVO-MARCHISIO (midfield), PEPE-PAZZINI-IAQUINTA ( forward), coach LIPPI.

It’s time to play……..FORZA AZZURRI!!!!
Signing off,
Your Italia Futbolita