Most famous for lifting the World Cup at the grand old age of 40, as of 2008 Zoff remains the only Italian ever to have won both major international tournaments, also starring during the Euro ’68 triumph. The former Juventus star’s Azzurri career spanned 15 years, as he also participated at the 1970, ’74 and ‘78 World Cups as well as Euro ’80. Between 1972 and 1974 Zoff went an incredible 1143 minutes without conceding a goal for Italy, a record that still stands to this day. Only Paolo Maldini and Fabio Cannavaro have won more caps than Zoff, who is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers of all time.
2) Claudio Gentile (1975-84) – Caps 71
Defenders like this just aren’t around anymore. A fearsomely mean and rough man-marker, many forwards would wet themselves at the thought of having to face Gentile. The ex-Juve man is best known for his brilliant displays during the victorious 1982 World Cup campaign, particularly his tussle with Diego Maradona, who he violently marked out of the game. In Italy’s classic 3-2 win over Brazil in the next match, Gentile performed an X-rated tackle from behind on the equally legendary Zico, before later ripping the number 10’s shirt in half. Also played at World Cup ’78 and Euro ’80.
3) Giacinto Facchetti (1963-77) – Caps 94 Goals 3
Inter’s most symbolic player had an equally distinguished career for the Azzurri, which spanned 14 years, and three World Cups. In his sole European Championships in 1968, he captained Italy to the title, lifting the Henry Delaunay trophy aloft in Rome following a 2-0 final replay win over Yugoslavia. Indeed Facchetti skippered his country an incredible 70 times, and his immaculate defending and bombarding runs forward from left back became something of a trademark. Facchetti was a champion both on-and-off the field, the perfect role model whose fair play and humbleness was an example to every young footballer. Sadly passed away in 2006 at the age of 64.
4) Gaetano Scirea (1975-86) – Caps 78 Goals 2
Probably the best natural sweeper to have played the game after Franz Beckenbauer, Scirea was class personified. Another member of the outstanding Juventus backline with Zoff, Gentile and Antonio Cabrini, Scirea was the organiser and the brains of this unit for both club-and-country. He was often the instigator of Italy’s attacks, bursting forward to add an extra man, just as he did in creating Marco Tardelli’s second goal in the 1982 World Cup final against West Germany. Like Facchetti, Scirea was renowned for his fair play and sportsmanship, and he was never sent off or suspended during his entire career. Shortly after retiring he was tragically killed in a car crash in 1989.
5) Franco Baresi (1982-94) – Caps 81 Goals 1
Considered by many as the greatest defender of all time, or at least in the top three, Baresi was of course the pillar of the all-conquering Milan side of the late 1980s and early 90s. His international career was blocked somewhat early on in his career by the brilliance of Scirea and Gentile, however he really established himself when Azeglio Vicini took charge, reaching the semi-finals of both Euro ’88 and Italia ’90. Tactically, technically, and physically perfect in defence, Baresi would also bring the ball out from the back and launch attacks just like Scirea. His international career ended at the age of 34 after the 1994 World Cup when, despite missing most of the tournament, he returned for the final against Brazil despite carrying a serious injury. Baresi put in a man-of-the-match performance but tragically Italy lost on penalties, with the stopper missing his spot-kick.
6) Paolo Maldini (1988-2002) – Caps 126 Goals 7
Another of the game’s all-time legends, Maldini has been playing at the top of European football for almost a quarter-of-a-century. He is, as of 2008, the Azzurri’s all-time record appearance maker, with 126 caps to his name. He burst onto the international scene at Euro ’88 as a 19-year-old when he was possibly the best full back in the competition. He went onto excel at another two European Championships in 1996 and 2000, the latter in which he was an immensely unlucky losing finalist. Maldini also starred in four World Cups, losing three on penalties in the latter knockout stages, including the final of USA ’94. Will surely go down as the best left back ever to play the game, even if he was just as impressive at centre back. All that was missing from his perfect career was an international trophy.
7) Bruno Conti (1980-86) Caps 47 Goals 5
Despite a relatively short international career, lasting just six years and containing less than 50 appearances, Conti will go down as one, if not Italy’s best winger of all time. An incredibly skilful and tricky wideman, at times it seemed as if the ball used to stick to his foot. The Roma star was a sensation at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, and for many people was the player of the tournament. Having scored a goal in the group draw with Peru, Conti really came to the fore in the second round pool. Italy needed to beat the seemingly invincible Brazil of Zico and Socrates to progress to the semis, and Conti was an inspiration in the classic 3-2 win. Against Poland in the last four he was again on fire, creating Paolo Rossi’s clinching goal, while it was his length-of-the-pitch run that set-up Sandro Altobelli’s third in the 3-1 final win over West Germany.
Andrea Pirlo (2002 - ) Caps 46 Goals 6 It would be unthinkable to have an all-time Italy XI without any of the 2006 World Cup winners. Gianluigi Buffon, Gianluca Zambrotta and Fabio Cannavaro will all lay claim to a starting place, however unfortunately their path is blocked by some incredible legends from the past, although Buffon probably will overtake Zoff at some point in the future. As for Pirlo, well the Milan star was instrumental during the triumph in Germany, particularly in the latter stages where he created Fabio Grosso’s dramatic 119th minute goal in the semis against the hosts. He also was named man-of-the-match in the final win over France, providing the corner for Marco Materazzi’s equaliser. When in form Pirlo was (and perhaps still is) the best deep lying playmaker in the world, and all this during a faster and more physical era of football that perhaps does not suit his style of play.
9) Sandro Mazzola (1963-74) – Caps 70 Goals 22
One of the stars of La Grande Inter, Mazzola was for much of his career involved in a fascinating tussle with Milan symbol Gianni Rivera for the playmaker role in the Italy team. The two were deemed too similar to play together, leading to the so-called relay race at the 1970 World Cup when the pair would often play 45 minutes each. Mazzola, the son of Torino legend Valentino, was an incredibly gifted and creative midfielder, who made his debut for the Azzurri at the age of just 20. He would go on to play in three World Cups, as well as contribute to the Euro 1968 triumph. He played his last game in 1974, finishing with highly impressive figures of 22 goals in 70 games.
10) Roberto Baggio (1988-04) – Caps 56 Goals 27
Italy have been blessed with many great forwards over the years, as proved by the fact that the likes of Paolo Rossi, Giuseppe Meazza and Christian Vieri couldn’t even make it into the team. However none of these single-handedly dragged the Azzurri to the final of a major competition like Baggio did at the 1994 World Cup in America. The Divine Ponytail was decisive in every knockout match up until the final, scoring four goals against Nigeria, Spain and Bulgaria. Although, for various reasons, he never played in a Euros, he participated in three World Cups, scoring the goal of the tournament at Italia ’90 with a stunning solo run against Czechoslovakia. At France ’98 the ageing Baggio outshone the young Golden Boy Alessandro Del Piero, scoring twice more to finish with a tally of nine World Cup goals during his career. Unfortunately he is best remembered for his penalty shootout miss against Brazil in the ’94 final, but in the eyes of many he is the most natural forward Italy has ever produced.
11) Luigi Riva (1965-74) - Caps 42 Goals 35
Nicknamed ‘Rombo di Tuono’ (Roll of Thunder), Riva was fast, strong, brave and possessed a shot so hard that he once broke the arm of a spectator with an effort that flew into the crowd. Riva is the all-time record goalscorer for the Azzurri with a quite astonishing strike rate of 35 goals in just 42 appearances. He would have had many more caps and goals had it not been for a broken leg that prematurely ended his career. The former Cagliari hero’s highlights for Italy include scoring the first goal in the 2-0 Euro 1968 final replay victory over Yugoslavia. Perhaps even more memorable was his goal against West Germany in the epic 4-3 semi final win in Mexico at World Cup 1970, a game regarded by some as the greatest of all time. He was part of Marcello Lippi’s technical staff during the 2006 World Cup success in Germany.
Formation: 5-3-2:
Zoff (c)
Scirea
Gentile Baresi Maldini Facchetti
Mazzola Pirlo Conti
Baggio Riva
Honourable Mentions
Giuseppe Meazza
Silvio Piola
Valentino Mazzola
Tarcisio Burgnich
Gianni Rivera
Franco Causio
Giancarlo Antognoni
Antonio Cabrini
Marco Tardelli
Roberto Bettega
Paolo Rossi
Alessandro Altobelli
Giuseppe Bergomi
Roberto Donadoni
Christian Vieri
Alessandro Nesta
Gianluigi Buffon
Fabio Cannavaro
Gianluca Zambrotta
Carlo Garganese
. to think, it is still missing many greats like Bergomi, Cannavaro, Collovati, Nesta, Burgnich and so forth.
