In Italy, football isn’t only treated as a sport, it’s a way of life. The Italians live and breathe for their “calcio" [football]. The passion and love that they feel for calcio, and the style it is played with throughout the country, has helped to produce some of the world's best footballers.

You just have to look at the history of both the Azzurri and Italian club sides to realise how great their players have been. To win four World Cups says it all. The first success came in 1934, when the great Vittorio Pozzo coached the Azzurri - and in his 10-year-spell, the national team lost just seven times. The Enzo Bearzot era saw Italy win their third World Cup. That team was filled with legends such as Paolo Rossi, Dino Zoff and Claudio Gentile. And the most recent hero is Marcello Lippi, who led the Azzurri to their fourth World Cup triumph in Germany last year.

Consistency on the international club front is also the hallmark of Italian football, with a raft of triumphs in all competitions. Let's take a closer look at some of the greats of Italian football.

'Look at the history of both the Azzurri and Italian club teams to realise how great their players have been'

Dino Zoff: An amazing keeper who broke records. On 1982, Zoff, at the age of 40,  became the oldest player to lift the World Cup  - and the older he got, the better he became. He became Italy’s most capped player with  112 appearances and he set a record of 1143 minutes without conceding a goal. Zoff’s achievements: six Scudetto (1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1982); two Italian Cups (1979, 1983); UEFA Cup (1977); European Nations Cup (1968); World Cup (1982).

Paolo Rossi: The hero of 1982, Rossi had been banned from football for two years after an alleged betting-and-bribes scandal, but three matches out of his ban, Bearzot took a brave decision to include him in the World Cup squad. Rossi's goal secured the triumph and he also collected the prize for top goalscorer at the World Cup. At Juventus, he was crowned World Player of the Year in 1982. Rossi’s achievements: two Scudetto 1982, 84; Coppa Italia 1983; Cup-Winners’ Cup 1984; Supercup 1984; European Cup 1985;  World Cup 1982; European Footballer of the Year 1982;  International goals: 20.

Roberto Baggio: One of Italy’s most popular players, his talent lit up the streets of Florence at the tender age of 18, and he soon became the world’s most expensive footballer after his move to arch-rivals Juventus. His move caused three weeks of riots in Italy, but the transfer couldn’t be stopped. Hs move to Juve saw him win the UEFA Cup in 1993 and he was voted the World Player of the year in 1994, despite missing a penalty in the World Cup Final against Brazil. Baggio’s achievements: Serie A Champion (Scudetto) 1995, 1996; Italian Cup (Coppa Italia) 1995; UEFA Cup 1993; European Footballer of the Year (Ballon d'Or/Golden Ball) 1993; FIFA World Player of the Year 1993; World Footballer of the Year 1993.

Franco Baresi: The most influential sweeper in football history, his Milan No.6 shirt  has not been offered to another player. Despite playing in Serie B, he made the World Cup winning team of 1982, but didn’t feature in the tournament. He retired after 716 appearances for Milan and 81 for Italy. Baresi’s achievements: 6 Scudetto (1979, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996); three European Cups (1989, 1990, 1994); three European Super Cups (1989, 1990, 1994); two Intercontinental Cups (1989, 1990); four Italian Super Cups (1989, 1993, 1994, 1995);
World Cup runner-up 1994.

Paolo Maldini: The great Maldini has blessed Serie A for 20 years. His ability to defend and attack has been a huge contribution to Milan’s success. Despite immense success at club level, he did not win anything with the national team. Maldini’s achievements: seven Scudetti (1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004); Coppa Italia 2003; 5 Italian Super Cup (1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2005); five Champions League(1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007); four European Super Cup (1989, 1990, 1994, 2003); two World Club Cup (1989, 1990); World Player of the Year (1994).