EURO 2008 INFO

World Champion title, Italy is of course a major favorites for Euro 2008 in Switzerland and Austria. But two years after his coronation in Berlin, she can repeat the feat and prevail on June 29 in Vienna? Review of "plus" and "minus" of the Nazionale.

MOST
1. Confidence: The Azzurri are confident, but not a risk
priori not try to do too much. The qualification for Euro immediately put in jeopardy after a draw (1-1) against Lithuania in Naples and defeated 3 to 1 in France, quickly return to earth only two months after winning the World Cup. Remobilisés, they then produced a faultless or almost, crowned by an epic victory and qualification worth face of Scotland in Glasgow (2-1).

"Today, there is no team in Europe a stronger than Italy, assured the ex-breeder Marcello Lippi. There's enthusiasm," feeling. "And the joy shown after the qualification in Scotland says more than all the speeches. "

2. Toni, the indispensable, Di Natale, the joker: since the World Cup, where he
took part in its success (2 goals quarters against Ukraine) but not be absolutely decisive, Luca Toni exploded. Champion of Germany with Bayern, Bundesliga top scorer (21 goals a day late), the former striker of Fiorentina, which will celebrate its 31 years on May 26, has become totally indispensable to the Nazionale.

Decisive skills, he found Antonio Di Natale, 30 years, a perfect complement. The small attacker (1.70 against 1.96 m m Toni) of Udinese is one of the few non-world champion to have emerged as holder. Explosive on his left side, it is both clever front of the goal and end smuggler. Méconnu outside the peninsula, it could be.

3. The experience of eleven holders in the finals of the World Cup, one is no longer there, Francesco Totti, who retired
. The group has remained the same, regardless retouched - returns Panucci, Ambrosini and Di Natale, apparitions of Quagliarella and Borriello-, and ensures uniformity. The presence of Buffon, Cannavaro, Zambrotta and Gattuso and Pirlo, it offers unrivalled experience.

Another advantage: the performance against clubs in Serie A Champions League have lightened the end of the season.

THE LEAST
1. The defence is quite ironic for the Azzurri, deemed
for their defence of iron in 2006 - symbolized by the Golden Ball of Fabio Cannavaro - but, in 2008, is surrounded by questions.

Except for the goalkeeper Buffon, who did not, however, disputed the
C1 lesser match in two years, leaving his teammates seasons
averages. The captain Cannavaro was indeed holy champion of Spain with Real, but its irregularity annoys the socios, while his partner in central defence Materazzi, long injured early in the season, came down from his cloud after his excellent year post - Mondial.

At Inter, it is even more indisputable. On the side,
Zambrotta has not been better view with Barcelona, Grosso has not impressed in Ligue 1 with Lyon and Oddo has lost its position as holder with AC Milan.

2. The Story: except for a torn victory in 1968, Euro
has rarely succeeded in Nazionale. As evidenced in recent
years, its non-qualification in 1992, the 1st round eliminations in 1996 and 2004, and its defeat in the final against France (2-1, golden goal) in 2000.