Forza Italia

So the current Confederations Cup has brought along its first real upset with Eygpt defeating reigning World Champions Italy.

Was this just a plucky underdog overcoming their more well known opponents or was it the end of a era for that super power, unfortunantly the second option seems to fit the bill.

When Italy won the World Cup in Germany back in 2006 everyone knows they didn't win it with flair, with quick tempo football or a wonderful passing game, they won it doing what they know how to stopping the oppositions scoring.

However that was three years ago and the old limbs that carried Italy through are still there and have yet to be replaced.

Throughout the years Italy have had both a world class number 9 and 10, Totti/Del Piero and Vieri/Inzaghi. That is the recent past you can go as far back as Gigi Riva, Gianni Rivera, Giuseppe Meazza the list goes on, but this current side seems to be lacking the thing their country has produced time and time again.

Luca Toni is not a great striker by any means nor is Alberto Gilardino, Giuseppe Rossi has youth on his side but there hasn't been many players Fergie lets go that become superstars, Mario Balotelli is hailed as the second coming well why doesn't Lippi call him up.

Italy will always produce the world's best defenders, but once again against Eygpt three of the back four were over 30 and the main leader Cannavaro is approaching 36.

The problem seems to come from the club game in Italy with places like Milan and Juventus been seen almost as retirment homes to the the other two big league in Europe. Maybe an Arsene Wenger approach to management is what Italy needs with youth being their main focus.

But lets hope the lessons are learnt from the Eygpt defeated both in the short and long term and this great footballing nation doesn't become a laughing stock