Italian team is the team where everybody, with the exception of the substitute goalkeepers, played at least a minute in the World Cup. Will this help them in the final against France?

Some of Italy’s changes were forced upon coach Marcello Lippi by the dismissals of Daniele Rossi and Marco Materazzi. The injury to Alessandro Nesta in the game with Czech Republic also caused a re-think while Lippi – a manager who normally does not like to make too many changes - was restricted in his selection for the opening game against Ghana because Gianluca Zambrotta and Gennaro Gattuso were not fully fit. They have since become first-choice members of the side, as has Mauro Camoranesi. Another change has seen the abandonement of the twin-striker partnership of Luca Toni and Alberto Gilardino.

France’s changes have been more straightforward: Frank Ribery forcing his way in and Florent Malouda now preferred to Sylvain Wiltord. Mikael Silvestre and David Trezeguet came in for the final group game against Togo when Eric Abidal and Zinedine Zidane were suspended.

Source: WCoffsite