Like four years ago, world champions Italy have been written off as potential winners. In 2006 they benefited from a smattering of world-class talent in their squad, allayed to togetherness and the organization of coach Marcello Lippi. Many of those players remain in the starting XI as does Lippi (who returned for a second spell after Euro 2008), although Fabio Cannavaro, so crucial in their success, is now well past his best. At 13-1 with Expekt.com to retain the trophy, they look a bit too short for those odds.
Having been given one of the easiest groups, they could be lulled into a false sense of their own ability - before they face one of the big guns. Alternatively though, easy games could be just what they need - should the stereotypical 'slow start' occur for the side. Another run to the final is available at 5-1 with Bet Fred, the runners-up spot is 11s (Boylesports) while to be the top European team they are 15-2 with Sky Bet.
Previous omens for stage of elimination betting include group phase (8-1 Sky Bet), their last failure coming in 1974 and last 16 (5-2 Sky Bet), as occurred most recently in 1986. Should they avoid being paired with Holland, they are due to meet either Denmark, Japan or Cameroon at this stage next summer. Brazil could be waiting in the last eight, and elimination then is also a 5-2 shout with Paddy Power.
They last bowed out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals in 1998 - although they only reached this phase too at Euro 2008. A semi-final spot is also on offer at 9-2 with Paddy Power, a stage last reached when they last hosted the tournament in 1990.
A potential repeat of the 2006 World Cup final against France in South Africa on July 11 is 40-1 with Tote Sport, the same odds offered on Lippi's men to meet Argentina (Sky Bet). Germany as final opposition are 50-1 (Sky Bet), while a Brazil v Italy final is favoured at 16s with Sky Bet and Totesport. The other fancied nations' odds to play Italy in the final are England (20-1 Tote Sport), Spain (25-1 Sky Bet and Tote Sport) and Holland (35-1 Sky Bet).
Fiorentina's Alberto Gilardino is Italy's main goalscoring threat, and the odds of the striker being top scorer and Italy retaining the World Cup are 100-1 with Sky Bet.
Other player odds are offered by Expekt, namely involving those likely to make the final squad of 23. Liverpool's Alberto Aquilani has endured a series of injury problems over the last few seasons, but was included in the squad for Euro 2008. Should he find form and fitness for the Reds, he could be worth tracking at 5-2 - to miss out he is 3-10 on.
Antonio Di Natale, the Udinese striker is a squad fixture with a goal average of around one in three for his country. However, the continued potential presence of Luca Toni, Francesco Totti and Antonio Cassano could make him the most vulnerable of the current Italy attacking squad members. He is 3-5 to make the squad, 5-4 to miss out.
Toni is out of the picture at Bayern Munich but being on such huge wages in Germany, any move he makes in January would be in order to find first-team football, score goals and subsequently earn a place in the squad. He is currently 2-11 to miss out, 7-2 to be in the final 23 - a decent shout considering his goalscoring presence in 2006 and at Euro 2008. Totti is the other main contender Expekt.com are offering odds on.
He is evens to be included, 3-4 to miss out - with the decision appearing to lie with the Roma player himself. Recovered from injury problems and scoring goals in the second half of the season, he might fancy a final World Cup finals swansong at the age of 33 - particularly under the stewardship of Lippi.
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