2006 champions Italy will naturally be one of the leading contenders to emerge triumphant at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa. The only country along with Brazil to have won the tournament twice in succession, Marcello Lippi's men will be vying to match the performance of their pioneering predecessors in 1934 and 1938.
Italy have qualified for 16 of the 18 FIFA World Cup finals, failing to book themselves a place in 1958 and having not opted to take part in the first edition in 1930. They have won the competition on four occasions, in 1934, 1938, 1982 and four years ago in 2006. They also finished runners-up in 1970 and 1994 and claimed third place on home soil in 1990.
4 FIFA World Cups (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006)
1 UEFA European Championship (1968)
1 Olympic Football Tournament (1936)
Italy will play Group F team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.
20/06/2010 16:00 - Nelspruit - Italy v New Zealand
24/06/2010 16:00 -Johannesburg - JEP - Slovakia v Italy
Marcello Lippi, coach said, "No team is superior to Italy. I don't want to say that we're better than everyone, but you might say that we're not inferior to any other team,"
Top of the list to likely win is Brazil, who is currently ranked no. 1 in the world. Barzil won the following FIFA World Cups of 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002. 2nd from the list is Spain, 3rd is Portugal with 1249 points as of May 10, 2010, 4th is Netherlands who have 1231 points, 5th is Italy with 1184 points and champions of 1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006, 6th is Germany with 1082 points and champions of 1954, 1974, 1990. 7th is Argentina with 1076 points and champions of 1978 and 1986. an last and 8th that may have a strong chance to win the 2010 World Cup is England with 1068 points and winner champion of 1966 World Cup.
South Africa team gain confidence and attention with their determined performance from the warm-up games happening prior to the 2010 World Cup event. USA is currently ranked 14 and the only championship they won was third place of 1930 World Cup. USA was no. 4 last April of 2006. They are scheduled to face England on June 12, 2010 2:30 PM Eastern Time.FIFA World Cup 2010 will start on June 11, 2010 and will end on July, 11 2010 with South Africa vs. Mexico to start the game event.
