Italy

Team News

Italy keeper Buffon has successful back surgery

Juventus said Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon underwent successful surgery for a back injury sustained at the World Cup.

World Cup post-game: Slovakia 3, Italy 2

Reigning champion Italy was eliminated from the FIFA World Cup Thursday following a 3-2 loss to Slovakia in Group F play from Johannesburg.

New Italy coach Prandelli expects quick rebound

New Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has said he expects the Azzurri to quickly bounce back from its World Cup failure.

Next Italian coach Prandelli faces challenges

Italy's fourth World Cup title is a faded memory, buried beneath the rubble of a flop of historic proportions, and it will be the challenge Cesar Prandelli faces.

Italy's Cannavaro retires head held high

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro doesn't regret coming back for another World Cup even though the national team fell in the first round for the first time in the 36 years.

Italian press wastes no time condemning Azzurri

The early exit of defending champion Italy in the World Cup left this soccer-crazed nation Thursday in shock and anger.

Slovakia ousts Italy from World Cup

Robert Vittek scored twice as Slovakia devastated Italy 3-2 on Thursday in South Africa, eliminating the defending FIFA World Cup champion.

Italian team admits they're worried

The World Cup is no place for defending champions, with only Italy in 1938 and Brazil in 1962 repeating. The Azzurri are facing an early, ignominious departure from South Africa 2010 if they don't beat Slovakia on Thursday.

Lippi laments Italian air game

Italy coach Marcello Lippi is upset that his squad wasn't able to follow his orders in the shocking 1-1 draw with New Zealand at the World Cup.

Italy not developing enough elite players

The problems facing Italy stretch beyond the defending World Cup champions' performance in South Africa, the head of Italian soccer said on Monday. One of the world's great soccer nations needs to develop players.