Italy's history of opening world cup games: vs Paraguay a draw is good

It's well know that Italy are poor starters at the World Cup.

In 1994, Italy began the tournament with a 1-0 loss to Ireland. Despite this being the first time ever the Azzurri lost to the Emerald greens, Italy were able to progress to the final.

Azzurri's group play in Spain was even more atrocious. The Azzurri managed three draws and scored only two goals. Italy went on to beat Maradona's Argentina and Zico's Brazil. A Brazilian team that has been rated the best to never win a World Cup. They dominated West Germany 3-1 in the final and Tadelli's screams of joys (after scoring a goal) live on forever.

Interestingly in 1982, Italy drew 1-1 with Cameroon. Such a draw was considered a disaster for a European powerhouse against an African minnow. Times have moved on as we approach game 11 in the first African hosted Mondiale. The world now gladly anticipates the world's first African world champions.

My favourite tournament was 1978. I still hold fantastic boyhood memories of an Italian team dominating France, Hungary and Argentina (the hosts and eventual winners) in the group phase.

Italy's reward for finishing first in their group was to play the Dutch, Austria and Germany in another round robin. Holland's brand of total football was to much for the Azzurri. The orangemen roared triumphant as they won 2-1, meaning the Dutch finished top and earned the right to play Argentina in the final.

In 1978, Italy enjoyed the satisfaction of being the only team they beat the eventual World Champions.

Italy would meet Argentina again in 1986 and 1990. In 1986, Italy also played Bulgaria and Korea (two teams that they would meet in subsequent World Cups).

The 1986 Italian team was but a smite to the team that had won the 1982 World Cup. Paolo Rossi returned, but at 29 years was considered too old to be a telling factor. His being there was for motivational purposes. No one expected him to be on the field let alone be in to retain the 'golden boot'.

Italy's opening game was an uninspiring 1-1 draw with Bulgaria. That score was repeated in their next fixture, with a 1-1 draw against Argentina. Italy's goal coming from a dubious penalty. The Italians battled the South Koreans for a 3-2 win.

Unlike the 1970 team (who lost to Brazil in a legendary final), the Azzurri never warmed to the Mexican conditions succumbing to France 2-0 in the first knockout round.

1990 was a tragedy. We were hosts. We were efficient in managing 1-0 and 2-0 victories against a number of teams. Schillachi (the Sicilian hit-man) was the surprise find knocking in a number of goals. Roberto Baggio was becoming a household name. In fact because of Baggio, Madonna would go on to invite the entire Italian squad to her house.

It wasn't until the semi-finals that the Italians conceded a goal. Cannigia negating Schillachi's first half strike. The semi was played in Napoli. A city still spellbound by the impression made by the Maradonna, their last son. A city that would literally remain indebted for years as their club attempted to pay amounts owing from their star signing.

Paolo Maldini would go on to say that had that semi-final been played in other city, there's no way the Italians would have lost. This would have been a good thing given the boredom produced from Germany's sombre 1-0 final win against the Argentinians (a team depleted by yellow cards).

1998 was a drab World Cup for the Italians. Cesare Maldini held a personal preference for Alessandro del Piero over Roberto Baggio. Something that would cost the Italians as they would go on to lose to France on penalties (after a 0-0 regulation time draw) in the quarter finals.

Italy has every right to cry foul after having five legitimate goals disallowed in South Korea. The incompetency showed by FIFA officials robbed the Azzurri as the class of 2002 wasn't too bad. Watching highlights of Italy's loss to South Korea is still enough to make the most staunchest of neutral supporters cringe.

But that's ok as 2006 came quickly. Allowing us to enter Africa as reigning champions.

Opening games

1978 Italy 2 France 1 (eventually finished fourth)

1982 Italy 0 Poland 0 (eventual winners)

1986 Italy 1 Bulgaria 1 (knocked out in first round of 16)

1990 Italy 1 Austria 0 (finished third)

1994 Italy 0 Ireland 1 (runners-up)

1998 Italy 2 Chile 2 (knocked out in quarter finals)

2002 Italy 2 Ecuador 0 (knocked out in first round of 16)

2006 Italy 2 Ghana 0 (eventual winners)

Additional notes

In 1950, Italy became the first reigning champions (after having won the previous World Cup in 1938) to lose their opening tournament game (going down to Sweden).

Similar to this year's squad, the 1986 team was made up of a mix of previous champions and upcoming stars. The team was lead by Enzo Bearzot the manager who had steered the Azzurri to the world title in 1982.

Italy recently drew 1-1 with Switzerland in a pre-season tournament, a repeat of an identical result the 2006 team enjoyed.

Italy are only one of two nations that have been successful in retaining the world title. The only other being Pele's Brazilian team of 1958 and 1962.