Is this italian team the worst team to ever win the world cup ?

I'm a huge italian fan but france were better than us and I would love italy to play football like that.

Does any one agree or even care ?

About the same standard as France in 1998, I'd say.

Brazil in 2002 were never tested by a decent opposition, so it's hard to compare.

West Germany were a poor team at Italia 90 (the worst World Cup I can remember), Brazil weren't a great team in USA'94. Argentina were an average side in Mexcio'86, who had the advantage of the greatest ever player in Maradona.

As a side, this Italian team are one of the best in recent times, perhaps not as an attractive team to watch (but has any team since Brazil in 1982?), but in their overall style of play. They have played to their strengths and, in the semi final victory, have played some excellent football.

And were France that much better last night? Both sides failed to create clear openings, Zidane's header perhaps. Both keepers had very little to do so, for all of their build up play, France created very little.

And Italy conceded only two goals in seven games - and they were a (bizarre) own goal and a very debatable penalty. That's a pretty great achievement.

Not to mention 10 different players scoring that is quite an achievement.

I think if you look at previous World Cup winners the side that won last night would probably not be as good player for player as some of the great teams of the past, probably not as good as some teams that have never won it (Dutch side of the 70's) But as far as passion, pride and teamwork goes the current Italian side is better than any other World Cup winning side i can recall.

With the exception of Maradona, the 1986 Argentine side was very, very ordinary (clue - but for Maradona, England would probably have won). Neither of the 1990 finalists was particularly special either - England (at a push) and Italy were arguably better/more competent than both.

I don't think this Italian side is as good as the 1982 team, but they're certainly not the weakest side to win it in the last 28 years.

People will remember this team for what they did. They were brilliant. Even if they had not won they would have still got my respect. It was not easy playing in the final knowing that you may have to play in lower division/another country when you go back. And whoever slams this team should not forget the game agaiant Germany. Without a doubt the best game of teh tournament.

quote:

Originally posted by italia:
Is this italian team the worst team to ever win the world cup ?

I'm a huge italian fan but france were better than us and I would love italy to play football like that.

Does any one agree or even care ?

lol, you thought Italia squard is a joke and far worse than England,Spain and irlo is a overrated player...... now Italia get the chamion and you said they are the worst winning team ever...

As a TEAM, I think Azzurri is a very strong team and can't see they are worse than any previous world cu winning team. Defense has told you how Azzurri ios a great team. Maybe they are not the best attackive winning team but must not be a worst team ever.

and Italia doesn't lack good players. The defense line must be one of the best defense line ever in world cup. Buffon , Canna, Zambro, Grosso all are toppest. and there is Pirlo, Gattuso in the midfield.

and Italia are good in attack and defense. They scored 12 goals in 7 games and the scorer are wide distributed- from 10 different players.

don't need to talk so much about the defense, only lose by a own goal and a diving penalty.

can see Azzurri this time is the worst winning team ever. Italia win it base on strong defense. and you never liked that style so you thought they are the worst team.


and France was not the better side last night.
1. France only score a penalty from a dive.
2. Toni hit the crossbar and scored a onside header
3. More attack doesn't mean a better team. France make more attack but Italia defense showed that their defense was better than France attack.

4. Even in the shooting-penalty period, Azzurri scored all the penalties perfectly.

Actual Final games themselves usually tend do be dour affairs because neither team wants to come so far just to lose at the last step. for what it's worth i thought Italy were the better side in the first half while France had the better of it in the second. Overall however Italy were the best and most consistent side in the tournament from the start. Only conceding an own goal and a penalty whilst scoring plenty and playing good football. Lippi's tactics were spot on also.
Big triumph all round i would say

Yeah, wasn't Italia telling us all that Italia squad sucked?

Eat some crow, fool!

What a lod of rubbish

Lets take another look at the team.

they have a team that contains arguably the best goalkeeper in the world, the best central defender in the world, the best central defender of the tournament and the best full-back in the world. In addition to that they also have one of the best deep-sitting playmakers in the world, one of the best attacking playmakers in the world, one of the best defensive midfielders in the world and another of the best central defenders in the world. And the first guy in years to scpre 30+ in seria A in one season. After that they merely have a range of good players including Juve's all-time leading goalscorer. Worst team i think not.

France maybe out played Italy in the final BUt Italy had a much better Tournament then France

the worst was englerland in 1966 - plus they got the goal that never was

forza italia ;-)

quote:

Originally posted by Pa'Dee:
the worst was englerland in 1966

That is amazing twaddle even by your twaddlesome standards.

Italia,what planet are you on?!!!Call yourself an Italian,you should be ashamed of yourself!!!They were brilliant,and I'm not even Italian,you're not very patriotic,are you!!!How can you say the French were better,if they were so fantastic they would have scored loads more goals and won,wouldn't they!!!And if Zidane was so fabulous,he would have scored all of them single-handed!!!Well said,Calcioro,very well put.

Italy thoroughly deserved their win,they played at a pretty consistantly high level throughout the tournament and nothing they deserved pretty much everything they got from the tournament-okay the penelty against the Aussies was soft but at least it was debatable,unlike Frances' in the final.
As to worst winners-Brazil in 2002 and 1994 were poor as were France in 1998,an outstanding final notwithstanding.
Germany were well deserving winners in 1990-they were consistantly good from their opening day thrashing of yugoslavia onwards.
Argentinas 1986 were nowhere near as ordinary as people try to make out,media spin i think just for a change.
The world cups full of great "nearly" teams but most of the time theyve only themselves to blame for not fulfilling their potential-mental resiliance is a factor in winning too.
This wasnt the greatest world cup ive ever seen but it is nowhere near the worst either

Have to disagree slightly, Stevie.

While you're right in saying that the media line that Mardonna won the '86 world cup single handed is a load of bobbins, they weren't as good as the 1978 and 1982 sides, IMHO. The short tubby chap in the Number 10 shirt was arguably the difference.

When an England side containing Butcher, Fenwick and Reid manages to run an Argentine side reasonably close, then that's not a particularly outstanding Argentina side...

Likewise, I didn't think that the 1990 German side (Yugoslavia game notwithstanding) were anything special.

We're not saying that either were the worst sides to win, rather that the present Italian side can't be said to be notably weaker than those two; therefore accusing Italy of being the worst cup winners is unfair.

Highly unfair

Let's look at the Final Four in 2002-

Turkey- haha
S. Korea- there by dodgy decisions
Germany- very weak German side
Brazil- deserved winners, but not a highly competitive tourney

quote:

Originally posted by Duncan!:
Highly unfair

Let's look at the Final Four in 2002-

Turkey- haha

That was a pretty decent team. Much better than Portugal.