Italy Formation 2013

Italy Football Formation

Creation DateJanuary 5, 2013 UsernameSatadru145

Lineup (4-4-2)

Gianluca Pagliuca · Paolo Maldini · Franco Baresi (c) · Antonio Benarrivo · Roberto Mussi · Demetrio Albertini · Dino Baggio · Nicola Berti · Roberto Donadoni · Roberto Baggio · Daniele Massaro

Italy "Runners-Up XI" (1994)

It was perhaps the most cruel deception played by fate, as the two most influential player that pulled Italy straight to the final - Franco Baresi and Robert Baggio - perhaps two of the greatest players that Italy ever had - missed the tie-breaker kicks, that allowed Brazil to win the final, a match that remained at 0-0 even after extra-time (and had to be decided in tie-breaker penalty kicks).

Baresi and Maldini are without doubt the two best defenders Italy ever had. It was cruel that their A.C. Milan success couldn't be replicated in the international stage. The same goes for the great Roberto Baggio, who is without doubt the most talented forward Italy has ever produced. It is sad that most people remember the final penalty strike that he missed, which sealed the World Cup win for Brazil.

It was the first World Cup final to be decided by a penalty shoot-out. Brazil had previously beaten Italy in the 1970 final, marking the 1994 final as the second time that the same teams had met in two different World Cup finals, after Argentina and Germany met in 1986 and 1990.

The final was supposed to be a contest between Brazilian attack and Italian defense. The magnificent Italian defense managed to contain the brilliance of Romário (the best player of 1994 World Cup) and Bebeto, and didn't let them score for 120 minutes. Goalkeeper Pagliuca was more than great in the final, and had the luck of bar-post too, as Brazilian shots bounced of the posts multiple times.

However, in the end the better team won, but that doesn't undermine the brilliance of Italy side, which would eventually become the second most successful nation after Brazil.

Coach/Manager : Arrigo Sacchi

Reserves include : Luigi Apolloni and Alberigo Evani.