World Cup Appearance
Highest Finish:
Winner (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006)
Star Players:Gianluigi Buffon, Daniele de Rossi, Andrea Pirlo, Mario Balotelli
Titles:Winner (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006)
FIFA Ranking Position:9
Coach:Cesare Prandelli (since July 2010)
Population: 61 million
Area: 301,318 sq km
Capital: Rome
Currency: Euro
Federation: Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC) created in 1898, affiliated to FIFA in 1905
Registered players: 1,515,000
Kit colours: Blue shirts, white shorts, blue socks with white trim
Team nickname: Gli Azzurri (The Blues)
World Cup record: Winner (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006), finalist (1970, 1994), 3rd (1990), 4th (1978), Quarter-finals (1998), second round (1986, 2002), first round (1950, 1954, 1962, 1966, 1974, 2010)
European Championship appearances: 8 (1968, 1980, 1988, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012)
European Championship record: Winner (1968), finalist (2000, 2012), semi-finals (1980, 1988), second round (2006), first round (1996, 2004)
How they qualified for FIFA World Cup 2014: Finished top of Group B with 22 pts (6 wins 4 draws, 0 defeats, 19 goals for, 9 against) ahead of Denmark on 16, Czech Republic 15, Bulgaria 13, Armenia 13 and Malta 3
Top clubs: Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan, AS Roma
Population: 61 million
Area: 301,318 sq km
Capital: Rome
Currency: Euro
Federation: Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC) created in 1898, affiliated to FIFA in 1905
Registered players: 1,515,000
Kit colours: Blue shirts, white shorts, blue socks with white trim
Team nickname: Gli Azzurri (The Blues)
World Cup record: Winner (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006), finalist (1970, 1994), 3rd (1990), 4th (1978), Quarter-finals (1998), second round (1986, 2002), first round (1950, 1954, 1962, 1966, 1974, 2010)
European Championship appearances: 8 (1968, 1980, 1988, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012)
European Championship record: Winner (1968), finalist (2000, 2012), semi-finals (1980, 1988), second round (2006), first round (1996, 2004)
How they qualified for FIFA World Cup 2014: Finished top of Group B with 22 pts (6 wins 4 draws, 0 defeats, 19 goals for, 9 against) ahead of Denmark on 16, Czech Republic 15, Bulgaria 13, Armenia 13 and Malta 3
Top clubs: Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan, AS Roma