Italy will need Andrea Pirlo to be at his best if they are to have a realistic chance of becoming world champions in Germany. The playmaker took some time to establish himself at international level after making his debut in 2002, but Marcello Lippi opted to build his midfield around Pirlo and club team-mate Gennaro Gattuso during the World Cup qualifiers. His incisive passing and ability from dead ball situations - which he demonstrated during the qualifiers by scoring two free-kicks in a 2-0 win against Scotland - will pose a threat to all the Azzurri's opponents. Pirlo had spells with Brescia and Internazionale before joining AC Milan in 2001 and helping the Rossoneri win the 2003 Champions League and 2004 Serie A title.