Which Was Italy's Best National Soccer Team, 68,70,78,82, 90, or 2006?

Actually their best ever teams, would probably be the ones in 1934 and 1938.

Alas, we can only deduce this from historical records and not from first hand knowledge.

But from the teams I have witnessed, there were actually 4 very good ones;

1. The 1982 team

2. The 1990 team

3. The 1998 team

4. The 2000 team.

The 1990 team was very formidable and came within a whisker of the World Cup Final, only missing out when they caught Maradona and Goychochea, on their best days.

Had they made the Final, it would have been a cracker, the 2 best teams of the tournament (Germany being the other), battling it out.

In 1998, Cesare Maldini had produced a 'very tough to beat team'. They had a very good squad as well, unfortunately they came up against eventual winners France, in the quarterfinals. Only the lottery of penalties, denying them a place in the Semis.

That team grew from strength to strength and in Euro 2000, apart from France, Italy were the other stand-out team. Having had 1 hand on the Henri Delauney trophy, they somehow contrived to surrender it to the French, in 5 mins of madness, at the tail end of the game.

That leaves the 1982 team. Stumbling into the 2nd rd's Group of Death, where Maradona's Argentina and Zico's Brazil awaited them, Italy turned back the clock with 2 assured performances, defeating both teams to reach the semis.

That 3-2 victory over Brazil, will rank as one the game's all time great matches. Once they negotiated that group, there was never any doubt, that they would win their 3rd World Cup.

Their performances were solid, sturdy in defense and creative in midfield. It got even better upfront, with a rejuvenated Paolo Rossi. They easily brushed then West Germany in a 1 sided Final.

Owing to this, I would rate that team, as the best Azzurri team, I had witnessed.

2006 is just as good as 1982. i'd say people give a whole lot less credit to the 2006 team which will emulate the 1982 team in every way. 2006 team will also win euro 2008.

you didnt mention 1994 team which was the best, maybe not having the best record with some defeats. but they were the best. 1990 was excellent too, but germany and argentina were probably better.

1934 & 1938 were the best in their time. and one of the best ever. 1970 was also great, but mazzola was the biggest shi.t that played over rivera. that really did the damage in 1970 final against a brazil team that is so seriously overrated.

It's either the 30s, when people like Silvio Piola, the best striker ever in Serie A, were playing, or 1982, when a team with great champions defeated both Argentina (Maradona, Ardiles,...), Brazil (Falcao, Zico, Socrates,... somebody state Brazil 1982 was the best ever) and Germany.

'82 without a doubt. They had the greatest goalkeeper Italy and possibly the world has ever seen, Dino Zoff, and they had Paolo Rossi, leading Italy to the world cup, also winning Golden Ball and Golden Boot. And of course other great players. Oh and they actually won their games decisively, actually they tied all their first round games, but the second round and knockout rounds were all won in regulation time.

The best 1978 and 1990

Yes, Brazil will win the 2006 World Cup.

1982, they beat the best Brazilian team ever that year. No one can take that World cup from Italy in any sense. 1934 and 1938 please, 8 countries competing for it and the other one's could not afford the plane tickets or come up with money to produce a team.

Peace,

1982 but my favorite squad was 2006.

82 or 06, because that's when they won the World Cup

I'LL TAKE THE 1982 TEAM ANYTIME. NOT CERTAINLY THE MOST TALENTED ITALIAN TEAM ASSEMBLED BUT THEY PLAYED WITH A LOT PASSION AND DETERMINATION.