Italy want substance over style

Italy aren’t interested in entertaining, just winning.

Despite coach Marcello Lippi promising an attacking, flamboyant Italian side at these finals the team has reverted to a more defensive approach which has led to criticism from the Italian media.

However the side is unfazed by critics back home and are more intent on extending their stay in Germany.

“I really don’t care how we play, the only important thing is to win,” said Italian midfielder Simone Perrotta.

“Everything else counts for little. The most talented team of all time was (Johan Cruyff’s) Holland and they’ve never won  anything.
  
“They may be remembered for the way they played, but they ended up with nothing.”

Also copping a hammering in Italian press is striker Franceso Totti, and his Roma team mate was also keen to jump to his defence.

“He’s definitely not 100 per cent, but players like Francesco,  with the quality he has even if he’s at 70 or 80 per cent, is a  player who can make the difference in any moment of a match,”  he said.

The former Reggina player surprised many when he stated he would have preferred to play World Champions Brazil than Australia in their round of 16 match.

“Australia may seem like the easier draw, but the game against the US proved that matches which seem easy on paper are often the most difficult ones,” the 28 year old said.

“Paradoxically it might have been easier to face Brazil rather than Australia. Personally I would have preferred to have met Brazil, not because Australia are stronger, but because it would have been wonderful to play against them.
  
“It would have been a fascinating match and if you feel that you have the quality to win the World Cup, you have to beat every team.”

Italy play Australia in Kaiserslautern for a spot in the quarter finals.