2006# pos name age (caps)
1 GK Buffon 28 (60)
2 DF Zaccardo 24 (12)
3 DF Criscito 23 (17)
4 MF De Rossi 22 (17)
5 DF Cannavaro 32 (93)
6 DF Barzaghlli 25 (8)
7 FW Del Piero 31 (74)
8 MF Gattuso 28 (43)
9 FW Toni 29 (18)
10 FW Totti 29 (51)
11 FW Gilardino 23 (15)
12 GK Marchetti 27 (5)
13 DF Nesta 30 (74)
14 GK Amelia 24 (1)
15 FW Iaquinta 26 (12)
16 MF Camoranesi 29 (21)
17 MF Barone 28 (13)
18 FW Inzaghi 32 (49)
19 DF Zambrotta 29 (52)
20 MF Perotta 28 (24)
21 MF Pirlo 27 (24)
22 DF Oddo 29 (20)
23 DF Materazzi 32 (28)
2010
1 GK Buffon 32 (101)
2 DF Maggio 28 (5)
3 DF Criscito 23 (7)
4 DF Chiellini 25 (29)
5 DF Cannavaro 36 (133)
6 MD De Rossi 26 (54)
7 MD Pepe 26 (15)
8 MD Gattuso 32 (72)
9 FW Iaquinta 30 (37)
10 FW Di Natale 32 (33)
11 FW Gilardino 27 (41)
12 GK Marchetti 27 (5)
13 DF Boccheti 23 (5)
14 GK De Sanctis 33 (3)
15 MD Marchisio 24 (4)
16 MD Camoranesi 33 (53)
17 MD Palombo 28 (17)
18 FW Quagliarella 27 (20)
19 DF Zambrotta 33 (94)
20 FW Pazzini 25 (8)
21 MD Pirlo 31 (66)
22 MD Montolivo 25 (13)
23 DF Bonucci 23 (2)
Now, the players on both squads are names in question here are Buffon, De Rossi, Cannavaro, Pirlo, Gattuso, Zambrotta, Camoranesi, Gilardino, Marchetti, and Iaquinta. Of these players, only De Rossi, Gilardino, and Marchetti were under 25 on the squad that won the World Cup, and almost all the people I listed were named as starters for this World Cup. Of the older players, Buffon I understand, as he one of the world's top keepers, Pirlo and Gattuso had good seasons, and Gilardino and Iaquinta are respected strikers, thought not as prolific as Italy would like them to be. I know the saying is that Italy's players are like fine wines (better aged), but that doesnt always hold true.
Though the case can be made for many of Italy's aging stars, I'm going to single out Cannvaro, who symbolizes a lot wrong with the team. Cannavaro, Captain of Gli Azzuri, is 36 years young, and though he might be recognized as the hero of the Italian World Championship team and idol to many doesnt mean he's still got it. His form has rapidly dwindled over the past few years, and though he won't publicly admit it, he knows it. Leaving Real Madrid two seasons ago to return to his boyhood club Juventus (who have been disappointing the past two years), and now too far removed from his prime, he will play in Dubai for the money and fame. Regular first team football is always a plus, but when your skill level has diminished that much, it's not right to pick that player over other more deserving ones. Spanish legends like Guti and especially Raul are cast aside when their time has come, and though they might not like it, the RFEF (Real Federacion Espanol de Futbol) does not choose players who do not deserve to be selected for the national first team at the time, the same can be said for the English and David Beckham.
One could make the observation that because of the need for an aging Cannavaro, Italian football is on the decline, many football pundits following club football have noted in the past few years, including the bianconeri scandal and the poor performance of predominantly Italian clubs in recent years in european competition (Inter Milan is exempt from Italian football. . . Their starting XI in the 2010 Champions League Final against Bayern Munchen included zero Italian players). Still, what went wrong for Gli Azzuri?
Their group included Paraguay, Slovakia, and New Zealand. Paraguay, the 3rd place team from CONMEBOL, was the only team to defeat both Argentina AND Brazil in qualifying and was the only team to defeat Brazil by a multiple goal margin. A tie seems like a reasonable, yet somewhat surprising result for the Italians in what could have just been a slow start. A second draw against New Zealand though, was inexcusable. the Kiwis were playing on raw passion, but passion can not make up for skill. The Italians once again looked slow, uninspired, and uncreative. A second draw meant that victory was inevitable against Slovakia, who's best player, Marek Hamsik, plays for a second-rate Italian club, Napoli. Now, one of the reason's I singled out Cannavaro is partly because he was awful at this world cup, and was one of the reasons Slovakia scored three goals, sending Italy packing after just the group stage.
Italian football is traditionally very defensive and counter-attacking based (and they dive a lot, and play rough. . .), but the Italians have always had flair about their play. The lack of speed, creativity, intensity, urgency, but most importantly PASSION was missing from the Italian squad.
One could make some parallels that sticking with veterans is a very Italian thing to do, showing the reluctance to change, adapt, and advance, as well as the Italian arrogance that leads them to believe they are better than everyone as they are. Another very Italian aspect, the Roman Catholic church has failed to update itself accordingly, and finds itself losing members in a rapidly changing environment. You could say, unlike other national teams, Gli Azzuri fit their country well, and sometimes things just don't work out (like Italian fascism). The Italian national team might reflect their country's values and attributes, but doesn't it all really just come down to football?
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