Italy World Cup Team

Italy Headlines

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.
World Cup post-game: Italy 1, New Zealand 1: World champion Italy was aided by a controversial penalty in earning a 1-1 draw against New Zealand at the FIFA World Cup in Nelspruit on Sunday.
New Zealand shocks Italy with a draw: Shane Smeltz scored seven minutes in and New Zealand was able to hold off all but one Italian reply as the teams drew 1-1 on Sunday afternoon at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Italy's Pirlo could be ready for Slovakia: Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo is recovering well from a left calf injury and could return for his team's final World Cup group match against Slovakia.
Loss of Buffon may be good for Italy: Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon's World Cup may be over, but that may not necessarily be bad news for the Azzurri.
Italy's Buffon 'can't play' in next game: doctor: Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has been diagnosed with a herniated disc, and team physician Enrico Castellacci said Wednesday that the recovery period would "not be brief."
Italy goalkeeper Buffon's back problem 'serious': Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has a "serious" back problem and the team physician is not sure when he'll be able to play again in the World Cup.
Italy ill at ease: If the World Cup has taught us anything about Italy as a soccer nation, it is this: the Azzurri begin slowly and grow as the tournament progresses. The Italians do just what is required and no more to keep themselves heading in the right direction.
World Cup post-game: Italy 1, Paraguay 1: Paraguay earned a well-deserved 1-1 draw against reigning champions Italy at the 2010 FIFA World Cup Monday in Group F action in Cape Town.
Resilient Paraguayans nearly shock Italy: Paraguay threatened to rain all over the defending champions parade when they opened their World Cup campaign against Italy.
Italy's Buffon 'hopes to recover in two days': Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon says he can recover from a back problem in time for the Azzurri's next game.
Paraguay manages draw with Italy: Paraguay managed to draw 1-1 Italy in its first match at the 2010 FIFA World Cup on Monday.
Gattuso says World Cup will be his last: Combative Italian midfielder Gennaro Gattuso said Saturday that he will retire from the national team after the World Cup.
Di Natale sits in Italy tuneup: Italy coach Marcello Lippi has finally showed some indications of his starting lineup during a training match against a South African club.
De Rossi adds to Italy's injury woes: Italian midfielder Daniele De Rossi sat out a training match against the Gauteng all stars on Friday in Irene, South Africa with a right calf problem. He could play Monday's World Cup match against Paraguay.
Pirlo out, Montolivo in: Riccardo Montolivo has a stiff challenge at his first World Cup: replacing standout midfielder Andrea Pirlo in front of Italy's defence.
Pirlo gets encouraging news on leg injury: Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo has had another medical test on his injured left calf and the results appear positive.
Italy lineup questions: Italy's players are still guessing just four days before the defending World Cup champ opens its title defense against Paraguay.
The last hurrah for Italy?: To say that the national mood surrounding Marcello Lippi's Italy team is one of skeptical apprehension is to say the least.
Lippi pleads for critics to give Italy a chance: Marcello Lippi is getting tired of hearing that Italy's players are too old to win the World Cup again.
Camoranesi starts training regularly for Italy: Mauro Camoranesi has started practising regularly with Italy again, but now fellow midfielder Claudio Marchisio is working out on his own.
Daniele De Rossi: The captain of the future: De Rossi exudes poise, confidence and prudence — he is a perceptive runner, a clever passer and a clean striker of the ball.
Road to Recovery blog: Pirlo an injury concern for Italy: When it rains, it pours. After news broke earlier on Friday about injuries to England's Rio Ferdinand and Didier Drogba of the Ivory Coast came word that Italian playmaker Andrea Pirlo is nursing a calf injury.
Italy's Lippi springs no real surprises: In the end, Italian coach Marcello Lippi sprang few real surprises when he released his 23-man squad for South Africa.
Rossi and Borriello cut from Italy’s final roster: American-born forward Giuseppe Rossi and AC Milan striker Marco Borriello have been dropped from Italy's World Cup squad as the team announced its final roster Tuesday.
Prandelli to replace Lippi after World Cup: Cesare Prandelli has agreed to a four-year deal with the Italian football federation to replace Marcello Lippi as Italy coach after the World Cup.
Italy adopts 'us versus them' mentality: If managing to annoy the hell out of just about everybody is the first step towards sporting success, then Marcello Lippi's Italy have started their final World Cup preparations in the perfect manner
Buffon confident of maintaining form: Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon established himself as the world's top goalkeeper at the 2006 World Cup, and he's confident he can make a similar impact in South Africa.
Italy adjusts to high-altitude training: Italy is four days into its World Cup training camp and players are already reporting a series of physical ailments: headaches, dehydration, nausea and problems sleeping.
De Rossi wants to leave a positive mark: Daniele De Rossi was the youngest member of Italy's team in 2006 and his inexperience showed, but now at 26, he's a virtual veteran.
World Cup memories: U.S. draws Italy, 2006: American defender Carlos Bocanegra recalls his favourite World Cup memory: the United States' amazing 1-1 draw against Italy four years ago in Germany.
Cannavaro keeps focus amid uncertainty: Four years ago, Fabio Cannavaro he raised the trophy after Italy's World Cup victory. Now 36, Cannavaro is heading to his fourth World Cup surrounded by uncertainty.
Italy's Iaquinta dealing with back problem: Italy forward Vincenzo Iaquinta has been diagnosed with a minor back problem after sitting out training Monday.
Prandelli quiet over prospects as Italy coach: Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli isn't saying whether he will succeed Marcello Lippi as Italy coach after the World Cup.
World Cup memories: Roberto Baggio, 1994: Canadian soccer broadcaster Alf De Blasis recalls his favourite World Cup memory: Roberto Baggio's heroics for Italy against Nigeria at the 1994 tournament in the United States.
Lippi made right call to omit Grosso: In the space of four short years, Fabio Grosso has gone from hero to also-ran, as the Juventus defender was cut from Italy's preliminary World Cup squad.
Andrea Pirlo: The Metronome: In the 2006 World Cup semifinal, Pirlo took the ball from an Alessandro Del Piero corner and drew four Germans to him — allowing Fabio Grosso to accept a pass in open space.