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Italy

Italy are the most successful European nation at the World Cup finals, boasting 4 titles and 6 appearances in the final, only Brazil have won more championships, and their footballing pedigree is second to none. With one of the strongest leagues in the world, Italy’s success on the international stage comes as little surprise, though the country has often been criticised for defensive tactics that many believe have prevented them winning further titles.
However in 2 recent competitions Italy have come out of their shell; in 1982, inspired by Paolo Rossi, Italy knocked out overwhelming favourites Brazil and the fancied Argentineans against all the odds with superb attacking football. Then in 2006, Marcello Lippi led the Azzurri to glory again including a memorable win over host nation Germany, despite the game at home being rocked by a match-fixing scandal. Susceptible to early elimination, once they are out of the group stages Italy tend to grow, and become much harder to beat as the tournament progresses.

YEAR
EARLY STAGES
QUARTER FINALS
SEMI FINALS
FINAL
1934
7 - 1 Vs USA
1 - 1 Vs Spain
1 - 0 Vs Spain (Replay)
1 - 0 Vs Austria
2 - 1 Vs Czechoslovakia
1938
2 - 1 Vs Norway
3 - 1 Vs France
2 - 1 Vs Brazil
4 - 2 Vs Hungary
1950
Group 3
2 - 3 Vs Sweden
2 - 0 Vs Paraguay
1954
Group 4
1 - 2 Vs Switzerland
4 - 1 Vs Belgium
Play Off
1 - 4 Vs Switzerland
1962
Group 2
0 - 0 Vs West Germany
0 - 2 Vs Chile
3 - 0 Vs Switzerland
1966
Group 4
2 - 0 Vs Chile
0 - 1 Vs Soviet Union
0 - 1 Vs North Korea
1970
Group 2
1 - 0 Vs Sweden
0 - 0 Vs Uruguay
0 - 0 Vs Israel
4 - 1 Vs Mexico
4 - 3 Vs West Germany
1 - 4 Vs Brazil
1974
Group 4
3 - 1 Vs Haiti
1 - 1 Vs Argentina
1 - 2 Vs Poland
1978
Group 1
2 - 1 Vs France
3 - 1 Vs Hungary
1 - 0 Vs Argentina
Group A
0 - 0 Vs West Germany
1 - 0 Vs Austria
1 - 2 Vs Holland
Italy advanced to the Third Place Match.
Third Place Match
1 - 2 Vs Brazil
1982
Group 1
0 - 0 Vs Poland
1 - 1 Vs Peru
1 - 1 Vs Cameroon
Group C
2 - 1 Vs Argentina
3 - 2 Vs Brazil
2 - 0 Vs Poland
3 - 1 Vs West Germany
1986
Group A
1 - 1 Vs Bulgaria
1 - 1 Vs Argentina
3 - 2 Vs South Korea
Last 16
0 - 2 Vs France
1990
Group A
1 - 0 Vs Austria
1 - 0 Vs USA
2 - 0 Vs Czechoslovakia
Last 16
2 - 0 Vs Uruguay
1 - 0 Vs Republic of Ireland
1 - 1 Vs Argentina
Italy lost 3 - 4 on penalties
Third Place Match
2 - 1 Vs England
1994
Group E
0 - 1 Vs Republic of Ireland
1 - 0 Vs Norway
1 - 1 Vs Mexico
Last 16
2 - 1 Vs Nigeria
2 - 1 Vs Spain
2 - 1 Vs Bulgaria
0 - 0 Vs Brazil
Italy lost 2 - 3 on penalties
1998
Group B
2 - 2 Vs Chile
3 - 0 Vs Cameroon
2 - 1 Vs Austria
Last 16
1 - 0 Vs Norway
0 - 0 Vs France
Italy lost 3 - 4 on penalties
2002
Group G
2 - 0 Vs Ecuador
1 - 2 Vs Croatia
1 - 1 Vs Mexico
Last 16
1 - 2 Vs South Korea
2006
Group E
2 - 0 Vs Ghana
1 - 1 Vs USA
2 - 0 Vs Czech Republic
Last 16
1 - 0 Vs Australia
3 - 0 Vs Ukraine
2 - 0 Vs Germany
1 - 1 Vs France
Italy won 5 - 4 on penalties.
2010
Group F
1 - 1 Vs Paraguay
1 - 1 Vs New Zealand
2 - 3 Vs Slovakia

P W D L F A PTS 3x1 PTS 2x1
80 44 21 15 126 74 153 109


Stats correct up to and including 2006 World Cup. World cup stats.
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