​This team isn't based on sole international performance, but the best players from this nation in a suitable formation.
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STARTING XI
REMAINING SQUAD MEMBERS
3 best players not in the squad:
  • Adolfo Baloncieri
  • Alessandro Del Piero
  • Giampiero Boniperti​

Italy have won the joint most World Cups of any European nation alongside Germany. They have the third strongest starting XI on average, and the joint highest number of world-class rated players, alongside Brazil.

Combi narrowly beat Walter Zenga to the third goalkeeper spot. Nesta starts ahead of Scirea as a more suitable partner for Baresi. The right-back spot was difficult, as Bergomi was more of a defensive full-back, not well suited to this formation. However, this was the case for several Italian right-backs. The strongest attacking right-back option was probably Gianluca Zambrotta, but he wasn't worth dropping Bergomi for, who was still decent going forward.

Tardelli was the best choice as a holding midfield option for the midfield diamond. Andreolo is his back-up, as probably Italy's best natural defensive midfield option. Giacomo Bulgarelli was a strong makeshift alternative. Pirlo can play deeper alongside Tardelli in the XI. Valentino Mazzola could have played this role in order to fit his son Sandro into the XI further forward, but I preferred Valentino higher up the pitch. Andreolo and Sandro Mazzola are joined by Totti on the bench to cover the midfield diamond.

With the strong midfield options, Baggio's most appropriate position in this team was to start upfront, alongside arguably the greatest Italian player of all-time - Giuseppe Meazza. Riva and Piola are the back-up strikers, with Alessandro Del Piero missing out. Riva was also capable of playing on the left, but a right-wing option was still needed for the squad. So I chose Bruno Conti as the final pick, just ahead of Franco Causio. Another option was Gianpiero Boniperti, but he was considered stronger centrally.

Players By Decade: 1980's (6), 2000's (5), 1960's (4), 1930's (4), 1990's (2), 1970's (1), 1940's (1)

​Italian Positional Ranking (World Class Players - 81)
​
​Top 20 Italian Players of All-Time
​(& their all-time positional rank)
1     Giuseppe Meazza
2     Roberto Baggio
3     Gianni Rivera
4     Paolo Maldini
5     Franco Baresi
6     Valentino Mazzola
7     Giacinto Facchetti
8     Sandro Mazzola
9     Gianluigi Buffon
10   Dino Zoff
11   Gaetano Scirea
12   Francesco Totti
​13   Andrea Pirlo
14   Gigi Riva
15   Alessandro Nesta
16   Fabio Cannavaro
​17   Silvio Piola
18   Marco Tardelli
19   Adolfo Baloncieri
20   Alessandro Del Piero
Platinum V
Platinum V
Gold I
Gold I
Gold I
Gold I
Gold II
Gold II
Gold II
Gold II
Gold II
Gold II
Gold II
Gold II
Gold II
Gold II
Gold II
Gold III
Gold III
Gold III
1     Giuseppe Meazza   V   ​​7th SS
2     Roberto Baggio   V   ​8th SS
3     Gianni Rivera   I   10th AM
4     Paolo Maldini   I   No.1 LB
5     Franco Baresi   I   2nd CB
6     Valentino Mazzola   I   ​​​​​​​13th AM
7     Giacinto Facchetti   II   ​2nd LB
8     Sandro Mazzola   II   ​​15th AM
9     Gianluigi Buffon   II   2nd GK
10   Dino Zoff   II   ​4th GK
11   Gaetano Scirea   II   ​6th CB
​12   Francesco Totti   II   ​24th SS
​​13   Andrea Pirlo   II   ​11th CM
​14   Gigi Riva   II   23rd ST
15   Alessandro Nesta   II   7th CB
16   Fabio Cannavaro   II   ​​9th CB
​17   Silvio Piola   II   28th ST
​​18   Marco Tardelli   III   ​20th CM
19   Adolfo Baloncieri   III   31st SS
20   Alessandro Del Piero   III   ​32nd SS
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