But, overall, Italy's soccer is in turmoil due to a match-fixing scandal. This sounds pretty bad and is another reason for Italians to worry heading into the Coppa del Mondo. According to the Times before the scandals broke the Italians were worried about the American team.
After the 2006 World Cup draw last December, the television network Sky Italia suggested the pairings were rigged by placing the United States with Italy, Ghana and the Czech Republic to create a formidable Group of Death.
Italy worried about the United States soccer team? Times had surely changed. What was next? A great pasta nation threatened by Cup O'Noodles?
