DEFENCE OR ATTACK: WHICH ONE TAKES FARTHER IN THE WC?

[Scipio Africanus]

The best Italian sides always combined good defense with extremely clinical strikers (or at least clinical when the chips were down). Rossi, Baggio, Schillacci, Del Piero, Grosso etc. I will never forget Del Piero's goal against Germany in the 2006 semifinal. Ice cold finishing.

Now that Italy have below average attackers they either get bounced in the first round (2010, 2014) or watch from home (2018).

Grosso, a striker?

Chop rice leave stone. Grosso may not have been a striker but he scored a key goal for Italy against Germany in the 2006 semis.