World Cup Preview - Group F - Italy

Nickname: “The Azzurri”

FIFA ranking: 5th

Coach: Paul Newman look-a-like Marcello Lippi.

Game Schedule:
June 14 – Italy vs. Paraguay (Cape Town, 2:30 p.m. EST, ESPN)
June 17 – Italy vs. New Zealand (Nelspruit, 10 a.m., ESPN)
June 22 – Italy vs. Slovakia (Jo'burg, 10 a.m., ESPN)

Prospects: Group F is dominated by the current World Champions, Italy. An aging side, they're not particularly favored by pundits this summer; yet, no one who follows the game closely can ever count out a side with such a tournament pedigree. Ireland ran the Azurri hard during qualifiers before Italy triumphed in the final match. Lippi hasn't seemed to learn his lesson from that scare, plumping for experience instead of exciting young talent like Inter's Mario Balotelli.

Key Player: Milan's Andrea Pirlo is one of the last remaining true #10 playmakers on the international stage. His vision sparks most of the Italian attacks.

Youngster to watch: None - the average age of the preliminary squad is close to 30.

Who Will Get the Goals: Azurri hopes will rest on the goals of Albert Gilardino, the top scorer in qualifiers.

Who Will Get the Cards: Thuggish Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso, whose nickname is "Growl."

Prediction: Italy will coast through the weakest group in the draw; they'll be challenged by Cameroon in the Round of 16. Finally knocked out by the first decent side they'll come across - Spain - in the Quarterfinals.