Just as familiarity breeds contempt, so does parity in Italy's case. This is exactly the issue faced by Marcello Lippi and the Azzurri squad. Italy have registered yet another draw in World Cup play, as the team has failed to record a win in this calendar year. Once again, and this time against World Cup minnows New Zealand, Italy could only manage a 1-1 draw.
What exactly is the problem of the Azzurri squad? The main issue raised is the age of the squad, especially of the defense. World Cup winning captain and 2006 World Player of the Year, Fabio Cannavaro, has been a shadow of his former self. Indeed the Italy captain, in the last few years, has had his legs go from under him. He struggles to cope with the demands and pace of the modern game. His diminishing powers have been exposed numerous times this season, none more memorable than when Fulham striker Bobby Zamora got the best of him to help his team progress to this year's Europa League semi-finals. Another issue voiced by many Azzurri fans is the number of Juventus players in the team. Juventus have had a poor season, failing to even qualify for Champions League football. In regards to this however, it would seem that Italy has shot itself in the foot with this year's Champions League winning Internazionale squad not containing a single Italian player in its starting 11. As a result the Italian squad is comprised of out of form and aging players from Juventus, AC Milan, and AS Roma, despite the last group having a relatively better season under the stewardship of Claudio Ranieri.
Marcello Lippi already faced problems as early as May when he was still trimming down his 30-men squad. The Italian fans made their opinions known about Lippi's squad choices, calling for the World Cup winning coach to include the likes of Giuseppe Rossi, Francesco Totti, and especially Antonio Cassano. Lippi stood by his decision however and kept a firm stance on his squad choices. In effect Lippi's choices of forwards very much shows this. Iaquinta, despite missing most of the season through injury, made the plane. New Napoli striker Quagliarella is mostly untested at this level. Pazzini, a promising U-21 striker some years ago, has gone on to enjoy very successful spells at Sampdoria since leaving Fiorentina and scored 19 goals this season. Like Quagliarella however, he lacks real World Cup experience. As for Gilardino, the ex-Parma golden boy, he has seen his career re-ignited since linking up once again with Cesare Prandelli at Fiorentina. Finally comes the strange case of Antonio Di Natale, this season's capocannoniere (Serie A top-scorer) with 29 goals to his name, who has always fallen short of making his mark at international level and replicate his club form. Indeed this Azzurri squad contains the least impressive assortment of forwards Italy has ever brought to the World Cup, and their opening game results have shown this.
Italy's strikers have yet to score a goal in open play. Iaquinta scored his goal from the penalty spot against New Zealand and De Rossi scored their first on a corner kick in the opening game against Paraguay. Of course this should not be particular cause for alarm. After all, we should remember that Italy won the 2006 World Cup scoring the majority of their goals through set pieces and the strikers accounting for a very small portion of the goal-haul. But this squad is missing a very important element: the playmaking abilities of the Andrea Pirlo. Although Pirlo's performances have not been the best in recent seasons, the new entourage of the Italian midfield will surely help him express himself more easily than he does at AC Milan.
Therefore, once Pirlo recovers from his injury, Italy should slowly but surely return to enjoy better form... or will they? Although Pirlo's return will have a big impact in the squad, it is widely agreed by various football schools of thought that three types of players win World Cups: goalkeepers, playmakers (the iconic #10's), and strikers. Italy have recently lost Buffon in their opening game. Marchetti is of undoubted ability but lacks the experience of the Juventus custodian. As for the aforementioned striker situation, it goes without say that Italy is lacking in that department, especially considering the great Italian strikers of the last decade (Christian Vieri, Roberto Baggio, Filippo Inzaghi, Roberto Mancini, Gianluca Vialli). Thus in spite of Pirlo's imminent return, Italy will still be struggling. The age of the squad will, this time around, be their ultimate undoing. Paolo Cannavaro no longer at the summit of his powers, team morale being down, and with the whole of the nation not backing the group, Italy will be struggling to defend their title. Their so-acclaimed defensive solidity has even come under question as Italy have already conceded two goals off of set pieces. Taking all this into account, it should certainly prove to be an arduous title-defense for the Azzurri. But Italy has a knack for performing under pressure and when everyone has them counted down and out, so there's is still hope for defiant Marcello Lippi.
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