ITALY

Red hot favourites, 'The Azzori'; have won the trophy no less than 3 times (ie.'34,'38,'82) and are also on record to be the first team to successfully defend their title back to back in '34 and '38. Indeed, little needs be said as regards their ability to win this time around. The question is "can they get get together"

Appearances: '34,'38,'50,'54,'62,'66,'70,'74,'78,82','86,'90,'94,'98,'02

Key Players (to watch): Luca Tony, Fillipo Inzarghi

Population: 58,103,033

Size: 301,230sqkm

Language: Italia

Capital: Rome

Currency: Euro

Rating Code ( Probabity of winning the world cup): Green

Team list:

1 GK BUFFON Gianluigi Juventus, ITA

2 DF ZACCARDO Cristian Palermo, ITA

3 DF GROSSO Fabio Palermo, ITA

4 MF DE ROSSI Daniele AS Rome, ITA

5 DF CANNAVARO Fabio Juventus, ITA

6 DF BARZAGLI Andrea Palermo, ITA

7 FW DEL PIERO Alessandro Juventus, ITA

8 MF GATTUSO Gennaro AC Milan, ITA

9 FW TONI Luca Fiorentina, ITA

10 MF TOTTI Francesco AS Rome, ITA

11 FW GILARDINO Alberto AC Milan, ITA

12 GK PERUZZI Angelo Lazio, ITA

13 DF NESTA Alessandro AC Milan, ITA

14 GK AMELIA Marco Livorno, ITA

15 FW IAQUINTA Vincenzo Udinese, ITA

16 MF CAMORANESI Mauro Juventus, ITA

17 MF BARONE Simone Palermo, ITA

18 FW INZAGHI Filippo AC Milan, ITA

19 DF ZAMBROTTA Gianluca Juventus, ITA

20 MF PERROTTA Simone AS Rome, ITA

21 MF PIRLO Andrea AC Milan, ITA

22 DF ODDO Massimo Lazio, ITA

23 DF MATERAZZI Marco Inter, ITA

Coach: LIPPI Marcello