Come on, guys. How about a little bit of respect for the defending champs?

From guardian.co.uk

Italy World Cup 2010 fan's preview: Final, here we come.

The Italian member of our World Cup fans' network says Italy will retain the World Cup and England will lose to USA

Italy's Fabio Cannavaro takes a breather during a friendly against Mexico in Brussels. Photograph: Francois Walschaerts/Associated Press

Italy tend to do badly when expected to win – 1990, on home soil, for instance – and astound everyone when they're written off as rubbish. This year it's looking good – media experts are talking about the players being over the hill, Serie A being way past its prime, the strangulating tactics and why Marcello Lippi should be a club manager. It's the sort of thing people were saying in 2006. Italy will certainly find a way to make almost every game a struggle – New Zealand's physicality and speed is a worry – but our strengths are scrappiness and flexibility. I think we'll make the final. Really.

Men to watch: Daniele De Rossi is the star: tough, slick and he's a leader. Watch out for Totò Di Natale, Giampaolo Pazzini and Angelo Palombo.

Weakest link: Fabio Cannavaro is making me nervous. I wonder about Rino Gattuso and Gianluca Zambrotta too.

The coach: What José Mourinho was loudly to Inter, Lippi is quietly to the Azzurri: he is the star. He gets players to play for each other, and tactically he is quite a chameleon, adjusting his formation to stiletto opponents' weakest areas. He's the man.

Best chant: The immortal lyrics from White Stripe's "Seven Nation Army": "Oooh, oh oh oh oh oooh, oooh".

Least-liked opponents: Brazil. Yes, they have great players, yes, their coach is excellent, but I swear I will barf next time I hear "jogo bonito".


TIPS
Winner: Italy will have the edge over Spain.

Golden boot: Antonio Di Natale (Italy).

England: They will struggle to pass the group stage, losing to a highly underrated USA side. Their goalkeeping is terrible and their mentality is still suspect. Sorry.

Follow George Ferzoco at boubsterama.wordpress.com