Do the reigning champions have the skills, talent, and fresh legs to win again in South Africa?
Our Paesani by Francesca Di Meglio In less than a month, the Italian national soccer team will defend its World Cup title in South Africa. Italy is almost always considered a contender for the World Cup title. But the Italians haven’t won consecutive World Cups since their first two in 1934 and 1938. Frankly, the Italians have a pattern of relying on old horses and stale strategies when it comes to their national soccer team, which leaves many wondering how far Gli Azzurri can actually make it in the 2010 tournament. Sometimes, Italy is smart about looking to the past for future success. Bringing back winning 2006 Italian Coach Marcello Lippi, after trying out some others, was a good move. He has a way with players and strategies, which the world viewed both in 2006 at the World Cup and when he was the coach of the Italian Serie A club team Juventus. And advancing age doesn’t prevent you from coming up with effective strategies and motivational speeches and behavior. Older players, on
