2010 FIFA World Cup: Defending a Defending Champion

Once again, it's time for Italy to act as hated underdogs.

The four-time champions of the world come into the 2010 World Cup with a target on their back as defending champions, while simultaneously being viewed as weak by almost the entire world, including Italy.

Following Marcello Lippi's 2006 World Cup win, many of the same core players return for a second go at winning the ultimate trophy. This iteration of the Azzurri is viewed as too old and lacking creativity and a dominant striker. Younger players receive no recognition (and likely not much playing time), and potential World Cup stars, such as Inter Milan's Mario Balotelli and Sampdoria’s creative force Antonio Cassano, are nowhere to be seen thanks to a stubborn Lippi.

His motives (which have been exhaustively debated) aside, it's difficult to argue with a coach who won the last World Cup. Despite what is thought of the players or the national team, the Azzurri generally manage to come through.

In 2006, Italy's Serie A was embroiled in scandal and Italy was expected to be dumped out of the competition quickly. The midfield were derided as having no creativity and the strikers were aging. Italy, of course, went on to top their group, beat a sensational Germany, and put on a defensive clinic against France to win the Cup on penalties.

The same could be said of the 1982 World Cup, in which Italy was also reeling from a Serie A scandal involving match fixing and illegal betting. A number of national team players had been suspended and eventual star Paolo Rossi had just returned from a two year ban and was considered out of shape.

Italy faltered, making it through the group stages by managing only draws. They were as good as done. That is, until they defeated Maradona's Argentina 2-1, an unstoppable Brazil team 3-2, and a strong West Germany team 3-1 in the finals.

All of this sets up 2010 as a possibility of history repeating itself. Italy seems old and weak. They haven't impressed in warm-ups against Mexico or Switzerland, and playmaker Andrea Pirlo (calf injury) could miss quite a few games. But, in the end, the Italians are the defending champions, and while they do have a penchant for giving lazy performances when the title isn't on the line, they also make it a habit of proving people wrong.

Italy 's first game is against Paraguay on Monday, June 14.