Coach Marcello Lippi was calm and confident on Tuesday despite reigning champions Italy's failure to win their opening match of the FIFA World Cup.
Defending FIFA World Cup™ holders Italy will anxiously await test results on goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon after he was forced off with a nerve injury.
FIFA.com profiles Italy's qualification for South Africa and highlights the star players, the coach and the country's football history.
Italy will start as clear favourites to win Group F but?Marcello Lippi's men will not take lightly the?threat posed by Paraguay and Slovakia.
The majority of sides expected to qualify for South Africa 2010 from Europe did so, although?notable European absentees include Russia and Croatia.