Team profile: Italy
Just how much of a distraction the domestic match fixing allegations have been to the national team’s preparation will be there for the world to see when the Italians kick off their campaign on June 12. Domestic pressure is always intense, the debacle at Juventus merely fuelling the fire.
FIFA Ranking: 13
Coach: Marcello Lippi
Key players: Franceso Totti, Luca Toni, Alessandro Del Piero
World Cup record: 16th appearance
Best finish: Champion 1934, 1938, 1982
Last appearance: Second round 2002
Qualifying route: Won European Group 5
Key question: Rapidly becoming under achievers, can Lippi awaken the sleeping giant?
Squad:
| Goalkeepers | # |
| Gianluigi Buffon | 1 |
| Angelo Peruzzi | 12 |
| Marco Amelia | 14 |
| Defenders | |
| Cristian Zaccardo | 2 |
| Fabio Grosso | 3 |
| Fabio Cannavaro | 5 |
| Andrea Barzagli | 6 |
| Alessandro Nesta | 13 |
| Gianluca Zambrotta | 19 |
| Massimo Oddo | 22 |
| Marco Materazzi | 23 |
| Midfielders | |
| Daniele De Rossi | 4 |
| Gennaro Gattuso | 8 |
| Francesco Totti | 10 |
| Mauro Camoranesi | 16 |
| Simone Barone | 17 |
| Simone Perrotta | 20 |
| Andrea Pirlo | 21 |
| Forwards | |
| Alessandro Del Piero | 7 |
| Luca Toni | 9 |
| Alberto Gilardino | 11 |
| Vincenzo Iaquinta | 15 |
| Filippo Inzaghi | 18 |
Group matches:
v Ghana, 19:00 GMT, Monday 12th June – Hanover
v USA, 19:00 GMT, Saturday 17th June – Kaiserslautern
v Czech Republic, 14:00 GMT, Thursday 22nd June – Hamburg