I don't think anyone would disagree with your notion that WC 06 is Brazil's to lose. I, on the other hand, am from the school of thought that believes WC 06 is ours for the taking. FORZA AZZURRI SEMPRE!!!
Forza Italia I hope you know hoe to loose.... Wai wait.. they oughta have learned by now, after 70 and 94
Italy should be more worried about the Denmark's, Sweden's & Korea's of the world before they think about what Brazil is doing. Perhaps Italy can beat Brazil, but I've sensed in their past 2 major International competitions they've arrived as if they'd already be fitted to meet some powerhouse in the finals, and have overlooked the immediate opposition beforehand. Like France and Argentina on the eve of WC02. Eliminate whoever you're facing and THEN concentrate on who you'll face next.
Check our Italy v Ireland and Italy v Scotland forums. We took the Ireland friendly very serious and got a good result. We are concentrating on one match at a time.
I'll give you 1970 but 1994?!? Baggio was hurt and most of our defense was hurt or suspended, we still had the best scoring chance in the entire game and you "won" on penalty kicks? Are you kidding me?
I never said we won beautifully, all I said is we won.... And From where I come from when it comes to bragging all that matters is who took home the trophy.
Well aside from Mr Italian every Azzuri fan here seems content about what they're going to do vs. Brazil and not about the other 30 teams in the WC. You think Argentina, Netherlands or Sweden will be a pushover? Oh no in your success starved rants you're mainly fixated on trophy laden Brazil. Even France have defeated you the past 2 times you've met in a tournament, ironically in 2 of the most cruelest fashions to lose a match. France has been more of a detriment to Italy than Brazil has. You guys just seem envious to me. Funny while you guys gloat about what you achieved in 1982, even lesser footballing nations like Greece and Denmark have claimed trophies while you've came away with nothing. Not even mentioning Brazil making 3 WC finals in a row and winning two. Are you guys content with clinging on to 1982 for the rest of your lives while the Azzuri gets sent packing by the likes of S.Korea? I'd like to think you guys would've learned from your past couple debacles (EURO 04 & WC 02), you'd have ridded yourselves of this arrogant attitude towards your immediate opposition. Sadly I've been mistaken.
Sorry, but the original poster posed the question about Brazil, so the discussion has been about BRAZIL. Ask the question about every other team in the world, and the answer is Yes, Italy can beat any team (not that it WILL happen, that it CAN happen - there's a big difference). The question being discussed is, even if Italy plays a great game, CAN they beat Brazil. And the answer, IMO, is sure, but only if Brazil is not on top form.
As SueB pointed out, the whole point of this thread is whether or not Italy can beat Brazil. To discuss other nations and issues, there are other threads, which is why this is a forum. To judge and critique Italian fans based on this thread is...well, ignorant at best.
This thread is asking a legitimate question. It's not that the Azzurri (or that Azzurri fans) are ignoring smaller teams like Sweden and S. Korea--in fact, Lippi's policy of selecting only the best performers and most enthusiastic and discplined players, has brought much-needed humility to the squad--it's that, after two poor tournaments, we are asking ourselves if the Azzurri still have the class to beat a team of champions like Brazil. And, needless to say, everyone here respects Brazil. But many of us do think Italy could give Brazil a match; with a great performance, even win it. Italy are historically even with Brazil (5 wins, 5 losses, 2 draws), have about 7-8 world class players, and now have a coach emphasizing attacking/ possession-oriented soccer. We have also improved our mid- field, which was a huge weakness at the last World Cup. So there is a case for optimism, and it's been expressed in this thread--not to say, please note, that countries like France or Argentina or even Sweden or Korea can be treated with a light attitude.
Boot this idiot out of here. From previous experience with the posters here, I would say that all of them are knowledgable and realistic about Italian football. Nearly everyone has said that we can beat Brazil, which is not a stretch at all. "Can" only denotes a possibility, and not a certainty. Would you argue that Italy in no way, shape or form could beat Brazil? Further, everyone here is aware of our failures over the last 23 years in international football, and that has taught us to be more cautious of the "smaller" teams in international football, and also that there may not even be anymore smaller teams, as we have seen that anyone can beat anyone else on any given day. Show me where anyone says that we will steamroll the competition. You acuse us of being envious, but of whom. Since you like facts so much, there are only two footballing nations with better historical results that us: Brazil and Germany. Therefore, why would we have reason to be envious of anyone? Further, where was anyone gloating about 1982? The Brazil fan brought up the times they have beat us in the WC, and we just rebutted with the time we beat their famous squad in 1982. Noone here is content to sit on previous WCs. Do us a favor, and understand the thread before you post such nonsense, as it is obvious that you are more of an Italy-basher than anything else.
And along with the famous 1982, on 3 other occasions as well. Of course, they've beaten us the same number of times, so we're even...