We don't know much, but we know we love the Italians when it comes to food, the opera and football and not in that order. And we especially love the Italians when it comes to football because they play a way that while maybe not the most entertaining, is one of the most difficult.

The Italians put winning above entertainment and they are right to do this. The game isn't about who had the ball longer or who had the most shots it is about who scored the most and who didn't let in any and the Italians are quite good at not letting in any. They proved this in the 2006 World Cup when they won it.

Their success in 2006 is probably why Marcelo Lippi is not going to be changing that many things. Some thins he has had to change but the core of this team is very much the same as 2006 and if they still have that energy, to chase down every ball and every lost cause - Italy could surprise a few - they have surprised us four times before.

World Cup 2010 squad for Italy

Goalkeepers

Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari)

Defenders

Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa), Leonardo Bonucci (Bari), Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan)

Midfielders

Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan)

Strikers

Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria), Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli)