Take a good look at the next world cup champs. This isn't your daddy's Italy team. No more sitting back, soaking up pressure and hitting on the counter-attack. Lippi has brought in a style of ball possession and flowing, positive football. With Totti playing right behind the strikers, Pirlo, Camaronesi, and Gattuso, Italy has one of the best midfields in the world. Did I mention we have the best center-half tandem in the world Nesta & Cannavaro?

No italy does not have the best center half tandem! England does! With Terry and Ferdinand. No doubt italy is a great team, but i think their is to much centered on serie A's match fixing scandle instead of on their football, and once again they will come up short and disapoint.

I'll give you John Terry, but are you really going to say Ferdinand is better than Nesta or Cannavaro???? England is definitely 2nd.

Italy may not make it past the first round this summer in Germany, taking into account their previous performances especially the warm up games played. They do not have enough depth and balance in the team. They can easily be disposed of in group E. They do not look like world cup favourites

i agree with forza italia 101%.. he's absolutely right. plus, italy has totti who's definately one of the top players in the world. I'd like to ask lorezo gorza if he remembers how italy beat germany 4-1 in March??? or how they beat holland 2-0??(on their turf by the way).

Thank you 'asromaboy'. Like I said, this isn't the same Italy as previous world cups. Marcelo Lippi has changed the way they play. This is as talented squad they've had since 1990. 'Brandon', I am a big Man United fan and I watched Rio Ferdinand all season. He doesn't always play up to his reputation. In fact he had such a bad spell, Sir Alex tried him in Roy Keane's 'holding' position. John Terry & Sol Campbell have always made him look better than he really is.

I hate United and Ferguson, but Sol Campbell is not exacly totally fit. He played a handful of games for the gunners this season. And from englands world cup warm up matches sol campbell has looked really shaky along with ashlee cole. No Doubt Italy is a scary team, if they're playing well, but i think its Englands turn because Steven Gerrard is in the best form of anybody in the world right now. And they have arguably the best midfield in the world. (Gerrard, Lampard, Jole Cole,Beckham) I haven't really looked at if Italy and England could play in the final yet. But if thats possible, i think that would be the best final in my opinion.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not hating on England. I agree Campbell is past his prime. I was just referring to his previous partnership with Rio. No doubt England have as good a midfield as anyone in the competition. I love Gerrard. It's time he played as great for England as he does for Liverpool.

Thats for sure Gerrard is playing awesome right now. I'm just hoping for a great world cup. And i hope for sure that Brazil won't win another title.

Well, Brazil better hope the Czechs falter, because that would be their potential 2nd round match, with Italy topping the group (of course). If they do meet, brazil's world cup could be done early. I don't think brazil's midfield has come across a midfielder quite like Nedved. I know a lot of people don't like his style. But that's what makes him great. He's tough as nails, has a motor that doesn't stop, and is the engine for the Czechs.

That is true, but i wouldn't count out the states or ghana. Ghana is unpredictable, and the states seem to be getting better with more players in europe. Im a huge bobby convey fan so i hope they do well.

hey people i'm a huge italia fanatic, but i do have to admit watching them play the friendlies with ukraine and switzerland, has got me really worried. I don't think italy has what it takes, i hope i'm wrong.

The one thing I hope for above all, I hope the referees don't JACK UP the entire tournament like they did 4 years ago (see S. Korea vs Italy, S. Korea vs Spain, Germany vs USA).

yeah... if they jack it up again that will make me really mad.. i'd also like to tell mauro not to worry because lippi didn't use his starting line-up and it might even help the team phsycologically to tie a couple of games before the world cup... if you remember when italy won the world cup in 1982 they actually did pretty badly in many pre-world cup games and barely qualified for the cup

i hope italy wins the world cup and i want to win the contest put out by the eurosport magizine

GO ITALY

italy may as u all say not have what it takes 2 win this year's world cup but they do havemuch potiential they can come a long way they may take u by supprise next world cup as4 ForzaItalica why wouldn't u want brazil 2 take another world cup

I can answer that for him, its because its getting old with them winning all the time. yeah the have maybe the best team ever put together, but i still think england is going to win the cup, everything is going in their favor.

italia very good team but they need midfilder players like fiore -

Go Italy! Italia! Italia! Italia!

OK, lets not forget that Italy has been going almost to the end of the games for the world cup. They tend to get lazy at times on the field, but then when they notice they might not make it, they come to attack their opponents. I have faith in the azzurri team. FORZA ITALIA!!!!!

All i know is that i will become an italian fan just for thursday for the sake of the United States need them to win.

Well my beautiful friends.......The moment has arrived ...I have waited 24 years....I am tired of waiting any longer.....Let's believe in italy 2006....God bless my fellow Azzurris ...ITALIA :THIS IS YOUR CUP.....AMEN...

The doolest team ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

go italy you cant be stopped

italy will win in 2010.

italy ur cant be stopped i wonder why

u r cheaters i like that

Way to go ITALY you really showed them how it's done. Big ups to Gattuso, Totti and Materazzi.

ITALY ROCKS! THEY ARE THE BEST AND I'MJ GLAD THEY WON. TRY NOT TO BREAK THE TREND, WIN NEXT TIME TOO!!! GO ITALY!!!

I just want congratulate the italy team of their performance.

Italy is the best cause it has some of the best players in their team. Another good thing about italy is that thay play the game with the teamwork given by their fellow players. I just hope they win the other world cup.

peace out italy!!!