With the support of thousands of Italians living and working on German soil, Italy will be looking for a good start against FIFA World Cup™ debutants Ghana in the second game in Group E on 12 June, which kicks off at 21:00 CET at the FIFA World Cup Stadium Hanover.
The backbone of Marcello Lippi's Italy's side is the same as the one that so impressed in qualifying, with rising stars like Alberto Gilardino and Daniele De Rossi playing alongside the experienced Gianluigi Buffon, Alessandro Nesta and Fabio Cannavaro. Luca Toni, a goal machine in Serie A this season, will bear the brunt of the Azzurri's striking responsibility until Roma idol Francesco Totti returns to full match fitness.
Daniele De Rossi will face a serious test of his credentials against Michael Essien. The young Italy midfielder, deputising for the injured Gennaro Gattuso, is a hard-working figure in the centre, who is not short of vision in the final third. He will not have it easy against talented Chelsea midfielder Essien, who complements his incredible energy levels with an eye for goal, three vital strikes in qualifying underlining his importance to the Ghanaian cause.