To fans of Calcio it's still as vivid as ever: The vision of Fabio Cannavaro lifting the World Cup aloft remains the proudest of Italian memories in a difficult recent history. But with one year to go before the 19th World Cup Final, Cannavaro and his Azzurri have a lot of hard work to do if the national team are to avoid an embarrassing fate in their defence of the trophy.

Philipe Coutinho, the fetus/striker from Brazil (seriously, don't you remember him?) is looking forward to the new year for many, many reasons. He's going to be part of the Inter Milan family and will finally live the Footballer's Dream. Yes, everyone knows that moving to Europe is the #1 step and then you choose your friends (in this case, Davide Santon vs Materazzi) and last but not least you make sure that your national allegiances are set.

Inter officials are very busy lately as a number of Inter players is being linked with big European clubs, while at the same time the club are looking to reinforce the squad by singing new players. Considering that both Maicon and Maxwell are likely to leave the club this summer, Jose Mourinho has set his sights on Lazio full-back Aleksandar Kolarov, who has impressed while playing for Biancocelesti last season.

It is very difficult, if not downright foolish, to predict how a team will perform at a major tournament like the World Cup in the immediate aftermath of qualification. But such is the assignment with which I have been tasked.

As such, let me say that I do believe the defending world champions of Italy have the talent to win the World Cup again (and certainly as compared to other teams.