Preview: Italy vs. Australia
GAME DETAILS
Australia vs. Italy, Kaiserslautern, 17:00 CET
Travel to Kaiserslautern
Bet on Australia vs. Italy (UK Bettors Here- Free 40 pound bet)
World Cup Gear: Australia | Italy
THE BIG PICTURE
Italy finished atop Group E with a pair of wins and a draw. The Azzurri played a varying style of football in all three games: attacking, physical and defensive. They will be without Daniele De Rossi who has been suspended for four games for an elbow he through in the United States match and likely won’t have Alessandro Nesta back from injury. Today they take on an Australia team that has been one of the surprises of the tournament. Australia will be missing Brett Emerton who is out serving a card suspension and Tony Popovic who is out with an injury. Can the newcomers dethrown one of the traditional powers? We’ll find out after these teams square off for 90 mintues.
Teams: Likely formation; shirt numbers; name, caps, goals, coach
Italy (4-4-1-1): 1-Gianluigi Buffon (63-0); 19-Gianluca Zambrotta (54-1), 23-Marco Materazzi (29-1), 5-Fabio Cannavaro (96-1), 3-Fabio Grosso (19-1); 20-Simone Perrotta (27-1), 21-Andrea Pirlo (27-5), 8-Gennaro Gattuso (43-1), 16-Mauro Camoranesi (23-1); 10-Francesco Totti (54-8); 11-Alberto Gilardino (18-8) Coach: Marcello Lippi
Australia (4-5-1): 1-Mark Schwarzer (39-0); 23-Marco Bresciano (27-7), 2-Lucas Neil (28-0), 3-Craig Moore (36-3), 14-Scott Chipperfield (49-11); 13-Vince Grella (20-0), 5-Jason Culina (16-1), 4-Tim Cahill (19-11), 21-Mile Sterjovski (24-4), 10-Harry Kewell (23-7); 11-Mark Viduka (36-6) Coach: Guus Hiddink
LIVEBLOG
Follow the match highlights as they happen on the Australia vs. Italy LiveBlog and stop by to leave your thoughts and comments about the match
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IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS
Australia boss Guus Hiddink was coach of South Korea when they eliminated Italy in the second round of the competition in 2002.
95 percent of the world’s opals are mined in Australia.
The longest sausage made in Australia was 11 kilometers (6.9 miles) long.
The oldest bride was 102 year old Minnie Munro, who married an 83 year old gentleman named Dudley Reid in Point Clare, New South Wales, Australia.
Australia Team Blog
Team Roster
Buy an Austalia jersey to support the team
Italy’s unbeaten run was extended to 21 matches with the victory over Czech Republic. The Azzurri have never played Australia.
The ice cream cone is an Italian invention.
The average Italian consumes 25 kilograms of pasta a year.
The average Italian consumes half a pound of bread a day.
Italy Team Blog
Team Roster
Buy an Italy jersey to support the team
TEAM BLOGS & DISCUSSIONS
Australia Team Blog
Italy Team Blog
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Comments
By Euler | June 26th, 2006 at 4:07 am 
My mind say Italy 2:1
My heart say Australia 3:2
By laprimavera | June 26th, 2006 at 8:05 am GO AUSTRALIA!!!!
Posted from 
United States
By Avi | June 26th, 2006 at 10:45 am Hi all,
Well all I support is the wellness of the game. Italy looks formidable today, and so are the Aussies backed with their agility and recent successes. In a exciting clash it will be a war of experience of Italians versus the flambuoyance of the australians. while australia i guess would go for a quick attack one the game starts Italy will have to rely on their impecc
Posted from 
India
By Steve | June 26th, 2006 at 11:29 am Whatever happens I am sure we will give the Azzurri a great game and at the very least a big fright 
Go Aussies !!!
Posted from 
United Kingdom
By Chu | June 26th, 2006 at 12:37 pm I think it will be more along the lines of the Brazil-Australia match with a great effort from the valiant in defeat Aussies! I would love to see them win just to watch the commentators on SBS here in Oz. They would have to be peeled off the ceiling! Yes Les and Fozzie, I am talking to you!
Posted from 
Australia
By vlado | June 26th, 2006 at 2:07 pm Kewell is out!!! We should still beat the Italian’s without him 
Posted from Australia
By mak | June 26th, 2006 at 2:35 pm italy will beat the hell outa aus , itl be like snatchin a candy from a kid , aus R.I.P.
Posted from Australia
By OPKO | June 26th, 2006 at 2:39 pm Italy has a tough game today… let’s hope they don’t re-enact the Portuguese fiasco from yesterday with their diving, rolling, whining and ditry play.
Posted from 
Canada
By dietmar | June 26th, 2006 at 3:25 pm italy is eyeing the final, it will be tough for the aussies. if the aussies get an early goal, it could really ruffle italy’s feathers…godd luck to both teams, and lets hope for a clean game!
Posted from United States
By Martin | June 26th, 2006 at 3:29 pm Euler, Follow your heart mate!
Win or lose, our boys have shown the world that Australia can play football (not rugby or Aussie Rules) and mix it with the world’s best.
Come on. Do us proud again!
Posted from United States
By Tom | June 26th, 2006 at 3:42 pm I’m a big Italy supporter and I think they should win this match without too many problems.
I’ve watched 2 of Australia’s games in the knockout rounds and, while physical, I don’t think they have the technical ability to pull the upset. Italy’s defense will stifle the Socceroos and Italy wins 2-0.
Posted from United States
By Terry | June 26th, 2006 at 3:59 pm Australia will show the passion and determination that we Aussies display in all of our sports. Italy will create alot of chances and go 1 goal up in the 1st half. Aussies will tie it in the second half at approx 75th minute.Regular time 1-1. Australia to score the miracle goal to win in extra time ( second period ) to win 2-1. Hiddink to pull all the strings. Go Aussies!!!!!!
Posted from United States
By Roland | June 26th, 2006 at 4:03 pm Well, I’ll be pulling for the Aussies, but I suspect this is the end of the ride for them; Italy 3 - 1.
Posted from United States
By Eve | June 26th, 2006 at 4:28 pm Agree with Tom., I am betting on Italy 2:0 win. Prediction lately has been quite accurate.
Posted from 
Singapore
By Deviilz. | June 26th, 2006 at 4:29 pm i just got off the line with my bookies..,the odds they give me for this game.Italy to win by a goal margin within 90mins.
Possible..?
Posted from 
Malaysia
By Eve | June 26th, 2006 at 4:29 pm The Aussie has been playing pretty well. Since Flo days, I havent seen anything close to this form. But I have watched all Italy games. They are still a class above the aussie … unless the referee makes some silly calls. touch wood.
Posted from Singapore
By Eve | June 26th, 2006 at 4:30 pm Devillz, take it.
Posted from Singapore
By Deviilz. | June 26th, 2006 at 4:39 pm Aussies do play with their heart out,is this enough to snuff out the Italian Job…?(very pro and sharp)
At half goal I would prefer the Italians.
Posted from Malaysia
By Roland | June 26th, 2006 at 6:07 pm Red might be a little harsh, but at least this game is much better called than yesterday’s fiasco.
Posted from United States
By Aqvamare | June 26th, 2006 at 6:53 pm really bad ref, next worldcup every team who will win the worldcup should in fronmt of the tourment go to a actor school and learn to fall on the right way,
never should a ref give a penalty in the 95 min for this
Posted from 
Germany
By Daniel Tome | June 26th, 2006 at 8:44 pm Here’s a petition to sign against the fraudulent referee decision:
http://www.petitiononline.com/aurobbed/
Posted from Australia
By blah blah | June 28th, 2006 at 7:35 am ahhhhhhhh that was sooooo painful to watch. Go aussie we should have won that. we rule!!!!!!
Posted from Australia
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