Italy is one of the most successful national teams in the history of the FIFA World Cup, having won four titles (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006), just one fewer than Brazil. The team has been present in 18 out of the 23 tournaments, reaching six finals, a third place, and a fourth place.
After a difficult route to the final, defeating hosts France in the quarter-finals and Brazil in the semis, Italy was the first team to win the World Cup title on foreign ground. Also, it was the first of only two times in World Cup history that a team successfully defended their title.
In 1970, the Brazilian team featured superstars including Pelé, Rivellino, Jairzinho and Carlos Alberto, and were considered favourites for the title. Particularly in the second half of the final, Italy was outclassed by Brazil's passing play.
Italy recorded three draws in the first group stage in a worrisome start to the tournament, proceeding ahead of Cameroon only on number of goals scored. However, the Italians went on to defeat Brazil, Argentina and a strong Polish side over the course of the tournament before facing West Germany in the final in Madrid.
Antonio Cabrini missed a penalty for Italy in the goalless first half, but the dominant Italian side eventually built up a 3–0 lead and won the match 3–1, securing their third World Cup title.
The 1994 final was the first ever to be decided on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes. Italian captain Franco Baresi missed the very first penalty, and Roberto Baggio the decisive last one.
Italy became the first team to lose two World Cup finals against the same opponent.
Italian defender Marco Materazzi was involved in all three outstanding moments of the first 120 minutes: he conceded the penalty that was converted by Zinedine Zidane early in the match, equalised with a powerful header soon after, and provoked Zidane in a manner that lead to the French captain being sent off. He also scored in the penalty shoot-out that was to follow.
It was only the second time a World Cup final was decided on penalties, again involving Italy after the 1994 final loss to Brazil.
Despite playing in a record 23 FIFA World Cup matches across four tournaments for Italy, Paolo Maldini never lifted the trophy. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is the only Italian player to have been part of five World Cup squads, although he only made an appearance in four.[2]
Three World Cup finals have been officiated by representatives of the Italian football federation, only English referees have had the honour more often (four times). The 1978 final between Argentina and the Netherlands has been led by Sergio Gonella, who had already officiated the European Championship final two years earlier. The other referees are Pierluigi Collina in 2002, and Nicola Rizzoli in 2014.
The Italian referee with the most World Cup matches, however, is Roberto Rosetti, who has been in charge of six matches total in 2006 and 2010.
1 Have been member of multiple confederations. 2 Considered a successor team by FIFA, or have competed under another name(s). 3 Team and national federation no longer exist.
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1934
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Australia
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Belgium
Bulgaria
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Ecuador
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Israel
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Republic of Ireland
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