COUNTRY FOCUS: ITALY

With four World Cup triumphs, Italy are the most successful European nation in the history of the tournament and are second only to five-times winners Brazil. They head to South Africa 2010 as defending Champions, and if the Azzurri successfully defend their crown they will emulate the acheivements of the Italian side that won the second and third World Cups in 1934 and 1938. Italy build their teams on defence and are traditionally very hard to beat, and don't expect it to be any different this time around. Few people fancied them to make an impact four years ago (myself excluded!) and not many are talking about them as potential winners this time either. Ignore them at your peril. In the five World Cups between Italy's last two triumphs - 1982 and 2006 - only France (1986) and South Korea (2002) have knocked them out of the tournament in open play, and the latter by virtue of a golden goal. From 1990 to 1998 they were knocked out on penalties. Marcelo Lippi answered the call to return as national coach following Italy's penalty exit to Spain at Euro 2008 in the quarter-finals, and he knows just what it takes to win the greatest Cup of them all. Italy have a unique opportunity this summer to become the first team ever to successfully defend their World Title twice, and in the process to join Brazil as five-time Champions.

World Cup Pedigree:

Italy won the first two World Cups they took part in. As hosts in 1934 they beat the USA, Spain, Austria and Czechoslovakia in a tournament that was used as a political tool by Mussolini to promote fascism. Four years later in France the Italians successfully defended their Title with victories over Norway, France, Brazil and Hungary.

Following the twelve-year gap due to the war a lean period followed for the Italians. They headed to Brazil in 1950 looking for a hat-trick of Titles. A crucial 3-2 defeat against Sweden in the group stages put paid to their hopes though, and in 1954 a play-off defeat against Switzerland again meant failure to get through to the knock-out phase.

Italy didn't even qualify for the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, and in 1962 again went out at the group stage following a defeat to the host nation Chile. Four years later in England they fell victim to one of the great World Cup shocks when defeat by North Korea in their final group game dumped them out. In 1970 Italy reached the Final but were outclassed by a fabulous Brazilian team who were dominating world football at the time. Four years later in Germany it was a familiar story; a key defeat against Poland yet again saw Italy fail to qualify for the latter stages.

In Argentina in 1978 the Italians did manage to get through to the second group stage, but lost 2-1 to Holland in the last match to miss out on a place in the Final. At Espana 82 Italy delivered their third World Cup in unlikely circumstances; a famous victory over Brazil in Barcelona was the launch-pad for Paulo Rossi to score six goals in three games and win the golden boot. Italy ruled the world following a 3-1 win over West Germany in the Final in Madrid.

Their reign as World Champions came to a tame end at Mexico 86 when France knocked them out with a 2-0 win in the second round. As host nation in 1990 the Italians bore a huge weight of expectation and reached the semi-finals without conceding a goal. They lost a penalty shootout against Argentina following a 1-1 draw, and this was the first of three consecutive World Cups in which they would lose in this manner. At USA 94 it was in the Final against Brazil and at France 98 it was in the quarter-final against the hosts. More heartache followed at Korea/Japan 2002 when South Korea beat them with a golden goal in the second round - evoking memories of what happened to them in 1966.

Italy arrived in Germany for the 2006 World Cup unfancied, but the heartache of recent years appeared to have injected some steel into the Italian psyche, and they progressed through to the semi-finals and a meeting with the host nation Germany. A famous 2-0 win set up a Final with France, who had a resurgent Zinedine Zidane in their side determined to end his career with a second World Cup triumph. But with the match locked at 1-1, the French captain was red-carded in the closing stages of extra-time and Italy went on to bury their penalty shootout hoodoo and secure a fourth World Cup.

Greatest Moment:

After three lame draws in their group matches at Espana 82 Italy appeared to have no chance of glory, but went on to beat Argentina, Brazil, Poland and West Germany to win their first World Cup of the modern era.

Biggest Heartbreak:

Roberto Baggio stood on the brink of greatness at USA 94 having carried Italy through to a Final against Brazil, but his penalty miss in the shootout dashed the dreams of a nation in the cruelest of circumstances.

At South Africa 2010 Italy will be competing in their seventeenth World Cup Finals.