World Cup ’94 : WORLD CUP USA ’94 / GROUP E PREVIEW : Italy at a Glance
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* COACH: Arrigo Sacchi.
* KEY PLAYERS: Roberto Baggio, Giuseppe Signori, Franco Baresi.
* STRENGTHS: Tradition is on the Italians’ side, as is the fact that the fans will be there for them in large numbers. Baggio won the coaches’ vote as the world’s best player for 1993. Signori is a proven finisher, having led the Italian League in scoring each of the past two seasons.
* WEAKNESSES: As in all tournaments, Italy will be under tremendous pressure to perform, especially after the disappointment of four years ago when it managed only a third-place finish at home. Sacchi has tried a variety of combinations but none seem to have clicked. Baresi is past his best as a defender and might be exposed.
* WORLD CUP HISTORY: Twelve previous appearances. Record of 31-11-12. Winner in 1934, 1938 and 1982; runner-up in 1970; third in 1990; fourth in 1978.
* LITTLE-KNOWN FACT: In 1934, Italy played its first World Cup match and scored a 7-1 victory in Rome. Its opponent was the United States.
* OUTLOOK: It will be tough going, but Italy should win its first-round group and then advance to at least the quarterfinals. If the team can finally come together, the potential is there for it to reach the final, but Germany is a huge obstacle and already has the psychological edge, having beaten the Italians in warm-up play.
* PREDICTED FIRST-ROUND FINISH: First.
ROSTER
No. Name Position 1 Gianluca Pagliuca Goalkeeper 12 Luca Marchegiani Goalkeeper 22 Luca Bucci Goalkeeper 2 Luigi Apolloni Defender 3 Antonio Benarrivo Defender 4 Alessandro Costacurta Defender 5 Paolo Maldini Defender 6 Franco Baresi Defender 7 Lorenzo Minotti Defender 8 Roberto Mussi Defender 9 Mauro Tassotti Defender 11 Demetrio Albertini Midfielder 13 Dino Baggio Midfielder 14 Nicola Berti Midfielder 15 Antonio Conte Midfielder 16 Roberto Donadoni Midfielder 17 Alberigo Evani Midfielder 10 Roberto Baggio Forward 18 Pierluigi Casiraghi Forward 19 Daniele Massaro Forward 20 Giuseppe Signori Forward 21 Gianfranco Zola Forward
