World Cup: Italy's Cannavaro holds defense together
Fabio Cannavaro, who will play his 100th match for Italy in soccer's World Cup final against France, has become the linchpin of the tournament's best defense.
"Cannavaro is without a doubt the strongest defender in the world," coach Marcello Lippi said. "I am really happy for him and for us."
The 5-foot-9 Cannavaro is one of the smallest centerbacks at the World Cup and has spent the past month outjumping taller strikers to win headers and intercepting passes to opponents' feet. His backline shut out host nation Germany in a 2-0 semifinal win and has allowed one goal in six games — the lowest of the tournament.
Cannavaro is one of four Italy players among 10 nominees for the Golden Ball given to the best player of the competition, and is the second favorite behind France's Zinedine Zidane to take the honor, according to oddsmaker Paddy Power.
Sunday in Berlin, he will become the third Italian to reach the 100-appearance milestone as his team seeks to add to the third world title it won in 1982.
"I asked my teammates before the tournament to give me the chance to reach this landmark," the 32-year-old team captain told reporters. "This is more than a dream, this is a miracle."
No opponent has managed to score against the "Azzurri" this World Cup. The only player to beat goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was Italy defender Cristian Zaccardo, who sliced the ball into his own net in a 1-1 draw with the U.S.
In each of its six matches so far, Italy has made on average 15 successful tackles — challenges where the team comes away with the ball. Only France and Portugal made more.
No cards for him
Cannavaro was responsible for 16 of the team's 90 tackles, second only to Italy's midfielder Gennaro Gattuso. He's also managed to do so without receiving any of the record 296 yellow or 27 red cards handed out by the tournament's referees.
France, which has allowed two goals in this World Cup, expects Italy to soak up pressure and counterattack.
"They are a very defensive team and will be on the defensive from the start," said France fullback Florent Malouda.
Italy's defense must contend with Golden Ball nominee Thierry Henry, who has scored three times as a lone striker, while also keeping a watch on three-time world player of the year Zidane's surges forward from midfield.
Marco Materazzi will continue to deputize for the injured Alessandro Nesta as Cannavaro's partner at center-back.
Battling "the best"
"Zidane is probably the best player there has been in the past 20 years," said Lippi, Zidane's coach at Juventus from 1996 until 1999. "France have recovered the best Zidane and they have progressively grown throughout this tournament."
If France gets past Cannavaro, it would have to beat Buffon, who became the world's most expensive keeper when Juventus paid Parma $46 million for him in 2001.
He has made a tournament-leading 24 saves and was also nominated for player of the tournament alongside defender Gianluca Zambrotta and midfielder Andrea Pirlo.
Italy has also mustered 11 goals, a feat matched only by Germany and Argentina. Whereas other teams rely on their strikers for goals, 10 Italy players have found the back of the net.
While Paolo Rossi was the competition's top scorer with six when Italy won the competition in 1982, and Toto Schillaci managed the same number in 1990, Luca Toni is Italy's top marksman this year with two.
A little team spirit
Italy's success is based on team spirit over individual star status, according to France defender Lilian Thuram, who plays alongside Cannavaro at Juventus.
Defender Fabio Grosso, whose Palermo club was competing in Italy's second tier two years ago, scored the first goal against Germany, two minutes before the end of extra time. He's one of several players Lippi called up from smaller clubs.
"They're a very homogenous group and have been playing together a long time," Thuram said. "They have great solidity and like working together."
Thirteen of Italy's 23 players, including Cannavaro, are competing as their clubs — Juventus, Fiorentina, Lazio and A.C. Milan — stand trial for sporting fraud in Rome. They're accused of colluding over the appointment of referees and may be demoted if found guilty.
"We are playing in the biggest world competition, and the match-fixing scandal has never distracted us from our goal," Buffon said.
Italy has won 17 of 32 matches against France, losing seven times. The two most recent meetings ended in French victories, on a sudden-death goal in the European Championship final in 2000, and on penalty kicks in the 1998 World Cup, when France went on to win its only final.
"I think of the penalty shootout in 1998 and in the final in 2000, and mamma mia," Cannavaro said. "We will have to sweat and battle."