In 2006 Italy were crowned World Cup winners for the fourth time in their history. Much has changed since that glorious night in Berlin where they triumphed via penalty kicks, with Roberto Donadoni taking over the reigns after Lippi’s resignation, who subsequently coached Italy to a poor European 2008 Championship as the Italians succumbed to exiting in the group stages. Donadoni was then sacked for the debacle and their 2006 winning manager Marcello Lippi was re-installed with taking charge of Italy for another crack at World Cup glory in South Africa.
Same Italy Manager Different Italy Players
This time round the Italians had to make do without their famous names in Alessandro Nesta, Francesco Totti and Alessandro Del Piero. Marcello Lippi continued to ignore Sampdoria frontman Antonio Cassano despite having a good season with Sampdoria. For the FIFA tournament in South Africa they boasted inexperienced players in their lineup with the likes of Domenico Criscito, Ricardo Montolivo and Claudio Marchisio but still retained areas of experience in captain Fabio Cannavaro and Andrea Pirlo despite their ageing numbers.
Group Stage Exit for Italy at FIFA World Cup.
With such players on show, Italy were not regarded prior to the tournament amongst the strong favourites to lift the trophy, though many expected them to sail through a group containing Slovakia, Paraguay and New Zealand. Italy began their title defence quest against South American’s Paraguay in the opening game. It was not going to plan after Paraguay shocked the defending champions by taking the lead in the first half, Paraguayan defender Antolin Alcaraz heading past Gigi Buffon whilst aided by uncharacteristically slack defending from the Italians, though Italy responded after the break with a set piece goal of their own, midfielder Daniele De Rossi pouncing from a corner to ensure a share of the spoils and enabling the Italians to leave with a point.
Italy Expected to Recover For New Zealand Game
The Italians were expected to bounce back and obtain a routine victory against minnows New Zealand in their second game. However, New Zealand shocked the defending champions early on but Italy responded quickly through a Vincenzo Iaquinta penalty. Italy pressed hard for the winner in the second half but could not break down a spirited and resolute display from New Zealand, hence the match finished with a shock draw against the World Cup outsiders. Nonetheless despite two poor draws, Italy still had the opportunity to cement progression by drawing or winning against Slovakia if Paraguay did not lose to New Zealand in the other game.
Robert Vittek’s Decisive Double Sends Italy Home
Slovakian Robert Vittek poked the Slovakians into an unlikely lead and doubled the score late into the game with another well taken effort. Antonio Di Natale gave Italy brief hope with a tap in before Slovakia struck again through Kopunek to seal a sensational victory, even with Fabio Quagliarella’s wonderful chipped effort at the last minute ultimately proving to be too little too late with the final whistle arriving soon after the goal, nailing the coffin shut on Italy’s World Cup campaign. Unsurprisingly Italy returned home to a barrage of criticism, with observers trying hard to identify just how four time winners Italy will recapture the magic they once possessed.
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