Despite winning their UEFA qualifying group, the defending world champions’ Italy have failed to impress since winning the 2006 World Cup. Many will point to history in warning against reading too much into the Italian’s results, while others will point to the squad’s age as a reason to think a different type of history will be made in South Africa.

On this edition of the World Cup Buzz Podcast, Laurence McKenna, Kartik Krishnaiyer and myself look at Group F: Italy’s group. The Azzurri will compete for a spot in the second round with New Zealand, Paraguay and Slovakia.

Tomorrow, we will look at Group G, who many have brutally labeled the Group of Death: Brazil, Cote d’Ivoire, Korea DPR and Portugal.