Italy face France in Berlin on Sunday for the biggest prize in world football so I decided that I would rate the players out of 10 on how successful a tournament they have had.
There have been some major stars emerge for the Italians and I have marked each player on how well I feel they performed during World Cup 2006.
1 Gianluigi Buffon, GK
Buffon has experienced a fantastic tournament and has put the allegations back home to the back of his mind becoming one of the most accomplished keepers at this World Cup. Aided by a fantastic defence he has not had too much to do, but whenever that defence has been breached the opponent has had to face up to an inspired Buffon.
Tournament rating out of 10 – 8 – Outstanding when called upon and commanded his area superbly. One of the keepers of the tournament.
2 Christian Zaccardo, RB
The defender has endured a tough tournament and was the weak link in the Italian defence at the start of the tournament. The Palermo right-back endured a torrid time against the USA and is the only man to have beaten Buffon in the tournament, slicing past his keeper in the draw with the US. He has been left out of the starting line-up since that draw, he has been replaced by the impressive Gianluca Zambrotta.
5 – Will be remembered for his fluffed own-goal against the USA, looked shaky in defence and didn’t get forward and support like Zambrotta does.
3 Fabio Grosso, LB
The surprise package of the Italian side, he has impressed at full-back and got forward to support the midfield, he even got on the score sheet in the semi-final against Germany with a sublime curling effort to send the Azzurri into their sixth final. Another Palermo defender in the Italian side but compared to Zaccardo, Grosso has been a revelation. Grosso’s performances for the national side during the World Cup have helped earn him a big move to Inter Milan after the finals.
8 – Impressive in defence and in attack throughout the tournament. Quality finish against the Germans, won the penalty against Australia with some top-class falling over.
4 Daniele De Rossi
De Rossi was shamed for his dismissal against America when he elbowed American striker Brian McBride in the face. Had looked impressive in the first game against Ghana, distributed the ball well and broke up play alongside Perrotta but he was let down by his temperament. Banned for four games that effectively ended his involvement in the competition, will need to prove himself again and impress Lippi before the coach will involve him again.
2 - Let himself down against America and will only be remembered for that disgraceful elbow on McBride.
5 Fabio Cannavaro
The Italian captain has been the defender of the tournament, his presence at the back for Italy has been influential in the Azzurri’s run to the final. Cannavaro has been a rock for the side, his perfect timing in the tackle and his surprise ability in the air have seen the Juventus defender given rave reviews by the world media, some naming him their player of the tournament. In the two times that Italy has been reduced to 10-men in this tournament Cannavaro has been the man to drag the Italian’s through. He has been my top man for the tournament and hopefully he will lift the World Cup to top it all off.
10 – The best defender on show at the tournament, the leadership he has shown must be a boost to his team-mates. One of the best Italian defenders of all time.
6 Andrea Barzagli
Called upon to replace the suspended Marco Materazzi, never put a foot wrong when he played but was always going to drop back out of the side when Materazzi returned. Impressive at the back and pacey for a centre-back, good in the air, his time will come, could be a regular come Euro 2008.
6 – Impressed in the games he played but not enough time on the pitch to make a long lasting impression.
7 Alessandro Del Piero
The veteran Juventus striker is coming to the end of his international career but will be remembered for his superb goal against the Germans. Used sparingly by Lippi the Juve striker has done a job when he has been called upon and sealed the semi-final win over Germany with his fantastic strike.
6 – His goal against the Germans will be remembered and shown for years to come but he just lacked minutes on the pitch to influence any games, Sunday will probably be the last time we see him in the Azzurri blue in a major tournament.
8. Gennaro Gattuso
A pit-bull in midfield, the Azzurri’s holding player has impressed since being rushed back from injury to replace the suspended De Rossi. Gattuso first appeared for the Italians when he was bought on against the USA to strengthen the midfield after De Rossi’s dismissal. He impressed in that game and showed no ill effects of his injury, Gattuso has got stronger after each game and will be on top-form for the final. Gattuso will have his hands full trying to contain Zidane but it will be a battle fit for the final.
9- Gattuso has been fantastic, he is so important to the Italian side. His ability to break up play and allow other midfielders to burst forward has been part of the Italian’s success. A truly world class player who is at the top of his game.
9 Luca Toni
The top-scorer in Serie A last season and some thought that he would take the tournament by storm but the big Fiorentina striker has found it difficult living up to expectations. During the group stage he failed to score, and was frustrated in any attempt to score against Australia. The Ukraine were the unfortunate side who met Toni on a good day, the striker scoring twice in a 3-0 win. He failed to get on the score sheet against Germany but should start in the final.
7 – A constant threat for the Azzurri but needs to find his shooting boots to be a real threat at international level.
10 Francesco Totti
The Roma man was a major doubt for the tournament as it wasn’t known whether he would recover from a broken leg. He has come into the side and scored the last-minute penalty against Australia that sent them to the quarter-finals, he showed the nerve and composure that Azzurri fans have become accustomed to when watching their team. Totti has been preferred alongside Luca Toni as he is a more creative player than Gilardino, thus giving the side more creativity.
7 – Impressive for the Azzurri but still not enough goal threat for him playing up front, better used behind two strikers.
11 Alberto Gilardino, CF
The Milan striker started the competition as first choice in Lippi’s 4-3-3 formation but he has found himself dropped from the starting line-up in recent games as the coach has gone with Totti and Toni up-front in a 4-4-2 formation. Scored a cracking header against America but has struggled to make an impact since. Set up Del Piero with a neat pass against Germany but has not made much of an impact up-front.
6 – Started the tournament well but has faded since the group stage, struggling to win his place back as Lippi prefers an extra midfielder in a 4-4-2 formation.
12 Angelo Peruzzi, GK
The veteran keeper has seen none of the action as of yet with Buffon in inspired form.
13 Alessandro Nesta, CD
Started the tournament alongside Cannavaro but picked up an injury that ruled him out of the final group game and every game leading up to the final. May be fit for the final but it would be unfair to see him come in and replace Materazzi. A top defender on his day and alongside Cannavaro the Azzurri look unbeatable.
6 – Played his part in the earlier games but injury will mean he misses out on a final place.
14 Marco Amelia
At 24-years-ol Amelia’s time will come, he is third choice keeper but in a couple of years time he will be pushing for the number one spot.
15 Vincenzo Iaquinta
Scored in the opening day win against Ghana but hasn’t looked like scoring since. He has been used by Lippi as an alternative to Toni when he has made substitutions. Iaquinta is a typical striker and will shoot on sight even if there are people in better placed positions, this can lead to frustration from the rest of the team. If he could learn to bring other players into the game when he has the chance he would be a real asset to the Azzurri.
6 – If he can add to his game he would be pushing for a starting place up-front.
16 Mauro Camoranesi
Lippi decided to revert to a 4-4-2 formation in the third game against the Czech Republic and Camoranesi was the extra midfielder that replaced Gilardino. Camoranesi gave the side width down the right and provided the ammunition for Totti and especially Toni from out wide. He has tended to drift out of games and can sometimes go missing, but when given the ball he has the pace and ability to make things happen.
6 – Not made a huge impression for the team but gives them the threat they require out wide.
17 Simone Barone
Two brief appearances as sub, not enough time for Barone to make an impression.
5 - No time to impress
18 Filippo Inzaghi
Scored against the Czech Republic in his only appearance of the finals, not been used by Lippi since then.
6 – Scored against the Czech’s to seal victory.
19 Gianluca Zambrotta
Another star performer for the Azzurri defence, whether he is defending or attacking the Juventus right-back has been fantastic. He has been a threat going forward and showed that he has an eye for goal with a cracking effort from outside the box to give Italy the lead against the Ukraine. Injured at the start of the tournament but just like Gattuso he has come back fresh and made a huge impression on the tournament.
9 – Fantastic when defending or attacking and has kept his high standard throughout the tournament, a key player for Italy.
20 Simone Perrotta
An unsung hero in the Italian side, gets through plenty of running and played through the pain barrier against the American’s when he picked up an injury but couldn’t be substituted as Lippi had made all his changes. Moved out wide left of a four-man midfield and has been just as effective as when he played in the middle.
8 – Fantastic performance during the finals and an unsung hero for Italy.
21 Andrea Pirlo
The Italian puppet-master pulling all the strings in the midfield, every attacking move goes through the Milan midfielder and he has been behind all the best moves. A threat with his set-pieces and he scored the Italian’s opening goal of the tournament with a cracker. Pirlo pushes Cannavaro close to being the Italian’s player of the tournament.
10 – Pirlo has been a star for Italy and has received high praise from the world media, could beat Cannavaro to player of the tournament.
22 Massimo Oddo
One appearance as sub, no time to make an impression.
5- One appearance, not much to write home about.
23 Marco Materazzi
Due to Nesta’s injury the big Inter defender has had a chance to come in and make the place his own. He scored the opener against the Czech Republic that earned Italy a place in the last 16 but he was harshly sent-off against Australia in the second round. He has since come back into the side and not looked back, impressive alongside Cannavaro and has made sure that the presence of Nesta hasn’t had any effect on the team.
8 – A tournament that the defender can be proud of, has been fantastic at the back for Italy and is a constant threat in the air for the Azzurri.
 | Writer: Ant Bailey
Date: Saturday July 8 2006
Time: 11:07AM |
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