Italy

Golden tears

The Italian team poses on the green before match 43 group G of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea Japan 13 June, 2002 in Oita, Japan. (From L top) Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, Christian Vieri, Christian Panucci, Gianluigi Buffon. (From L bottom) Francesco Totti, Fabio Cannavaro, Damiano Tomasi, Gianluca Zambrotta, Cristiano Zanetti and Filippo Inzaghi. AFP PHOTO PEDRO UGARTE

Italy came within a within a whisker of winning Euro 2000, leading France 1-0 in the final they conceded an injury time equaliser and then a David Trezeguet extra-time golden goal winner, the trophy cruelly slipping from their grasp.

That bitter experience will only harden their resolve as they go out to Euro 2004, with what on paper would seem to be amongst the very strongest of squads.

Italy lives and breathes football and occupies an exalted position in the game's hierarchy, having won the World Cup three times in 1934, 1938 and 1982.

Since that last win in Spain, they have been cursed in three of the past four World Cups by the lottery of the penalty shoot-out.

Add to the Euro 2000 agony, the scandal in the 2002 World Cup in Asia where their golden goal defeat to South Korea was shrouded in controversy, and you have, considering the consistent top quality talent Italy produce, a nation whose team seems to underachieve.

Dousing the dragon's fire

Giovanni Trapattoni survived calls for his head after the 2002 World Cup, calls that were renewed when Italy garnered just four points from their first three qualifying games for Euro 2004.

They started out with a 2-0 win at the Black Sea town of Baku against Azerbaijan, but were then held 1-1 at home by Serbia & Montenegro before being stunned 2-1 at home by Wales, who took a five point lead over them.

Italy responded by taking 13 of the remaining 15 points to win direct qualification and condemn the Welsh to the play-offs.

At the finals of Euro 2004 Italy have been drawn against three other direct qualifiers in Group C, Bulgaria, Sweden and Denmark. Trapattoni said he was happy to avoid Holland and France, his personal favourites, and that his side were most likely to progress from their group.

Selection headache

The coach prefers Inter Milan striker Christian Vieri up front with Francesco Totti just behind him. But Juventus star Alessandro Del Piero scored five times in qualification and AC Milan poacher Inzaghi scored six, giving the coach an enviable selection headache.

He also credits his midfielders Christiano Zanetti and Simone Perrotta as being the side's 'fierce bulldogs'.

Fabio Cannavaro and Alessandro Nesta form a formidable defence while a strong case could be argued that Gianluigi Buffon is just about the best 'keeper in the tournament.

Critics often suggest that Italy sides fail to muster a group mentality, and of course, lady luck often has the last word too.

Factfile on Italy

Population

57.4 million

Area

301,230 km²

Capital

Rome

Currency

Euro

Federation

Federazione Italiana Gioco Calcio (FIGC) created in 1898

Affiliated to FIFA

1905

Affiliated to UEFA

1954

Registered players

528,200

Colours

Blue shirts, white shorts, white socks with blue bands

Top clubs

Juventus (Turin), AC Milan, Inter Milan, AS Roma

World Cup appearances

15 (11th in a row in 2002): 1934, 1938, 1950, 1954, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002

World Cup honours

Winner (1934, 1938, 1982), finalist (1970, 1994), 3rd (1990), 4th (1978), Quarter-finals (1998), second round (1986, 2002)

European Championship appearances

6 (1968, 1980, 1988, 1996, 2000, 2004)

European Championship honours

Winner (1968), finalist (2000), semi-finalist (1980, 1988)

How they qualified

Finished top of Group 9 with 17 points (5 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss, 17 goals for 4 against) ahead of Wales (13 points), Serbia and Montenegro (12), Finland (10) and Azerbaijan (4).

Key players

Paolo Maldini, Francesco Totti, Gianluigi Buffon and Christian Vieri, Fabio Cannavaro

Coach

Giovanni Trapattoni