Quote:
Originally Posted by troutman
I suppose, but it was a miracle they won in 2006. They were outplayed by the US, Australia and France. Still, they won.
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Outplayed insofar as they allowed one goal against before playing France? Not to mention it was an own goal caused by an inexperienced player who only got to play because the starter wasn't game fit. The goal that France scored was also a PK. Italy is probably the only team ever to not concede a regular goal in the World Cup.
You have to bear in mind that Italy plays a very frustrating game... they toy with their opponents, allow them deep into their zone, and then spring the trap. They often look outplayed in this system because they give the other team a lot of the field. They rely heavily on their defenders, wingbacks and defensive midfielders... which is why they could be in big trouble after this tournament (and possibly in this tournament as Nesta retired from international play, Zambrotta and Cannavaro are both shadows of the players they were in 2006 with Italy and Juventus, Grosso has been average with Lyon, and both Barzagli and Materazzi had really lousy years. Chiellini is the only one of the bunch who had a stellar season, but at 23, he wouldn't be the ideal choice to be a starting CB yet).
The ideal Italy game is a 2-0 win, one goal in each half, since it is considered a decisive victory to them. They did that twice in the group stage against better teams than the US and Australia, and once in the quarter finals 3-0 against Ukraine... also a better team. They also beat Germany 2-0, but both those goals were second half strikes.
They were en route to that against the US, before getting down a player, having the Zaccardo own goal... though they were still the dominant team with 10 men v. 11.
Against France, Zidane was awarded a questionable PK very early in the game... Italy got the equalizer 10 minutes later, and the rest was pretty even.
Australia was the only real stinker, and even then they played a man down for nearly the entire second half.