FIFA Ranking: 9 (Last Updated 05 Jun 2014)
History: Italy are four-time World Cup champions. They won the title in 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006. Only Brazil have won more titles (5) than them. They have also qualified in eight semifinals but the 2010 edition saw them bowing out in the first round itself without a single win in three matches.
Qualifying report: Italy took complete control of Group B in the European qualifiers. They didn`t lose a single match and saw qualification with a game to spare. They were drawn with tricky opponents alongside Denmark and Bulgaria. They were the first team to ensure qualification alongside Netherlands from Europe. The last two matches saw them draw both and hence drop points in the FIFA rankings. They lost the chance to enter Brazil seeded.
Star Players: Mario Balotelli (scored 5 goals in the qualification round) plays for AC Milan (Italy) at club level. One of the most talked about players in the game, his on and off-field antics have often upset and angered his managers but the 22-year-old is loved and considered one of the top footballers. The forward helped Italy reach the 2012 Euro finals and scored twice in the semifinal clash against Germany. Italy have never lost a game in which Balotelli has scored.
Andrea Pirlo is one of the great footballing heroes the world has witnessed. He plays for Italy champions Juventus (Italy). The former AC Milan legend is a stupendous play maker and is lethal with free kicks. He is also known for his accurate vision and passing. The midfielder has been one of the finest veterans in the game and has played 107 matches for Italy so far.
Top Scorer during WC Qualification 2014: Mario Balotelli (5)
Top scorer at the Cup: Roberto Baggio (9)
Most World Cup caps: Paolo Maldini (23)
Team record at the Cup: M: 80, W: 44, D: 21, L: 14
Coach: Cesare Prandelli has set rules in the national camp on and off the field. He also pitched in to ban social media usage by players in the international camp. His contract expires in summer 2014, but Italy FA is keen to extend his contract.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Mattia Perin (Genoa), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain)
Defenders: Ignazio Abate (Milan), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Torino), Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Gabriel Paletta (Parma)
Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (Fiorentina), Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Marco Parolo (Parma), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint-Germain), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain)
Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Milan), Antonio Cassano (Parma), Alessio Cerci (Torino), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli)
Group listing: Group D, along with England, Uruguay and Costa Rica.
Fixture:
June 14: England v Italy, Manaus
June 20: Italy v Costa Rica, Recife
June 24: Italy v Uruguay, Natal