Italy starts 6 players from 2006 World Cup team

Published Jun. 14, 2010 7:05 p.m. ET

foxsports

Italy is opening the defense of its World Cup title with six members of its 2006 squad in the lineup against Paraguay.

Italy's holdovers from 2006 are goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, defenders Gianluca Zambrotta and Fabio Cannavaro, midfielder Daniele De Rossi and forwards Vincenzo Iaquinta and Alberto Gilardino.

Coach Marcello Lippi opted for a 4-3-3 with Gilardino at center forward, Iaquinta on the left wing and Simone Pepe on the right.

Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino left Roque Santa Cruz of Manchester City on the bench and started with a two-man forward line of Borussia Dortmund teammates Nelson Valdez and Lucas Barrios.

In Italy's lineup, Riccardo Montolivo replaced injured Andrea Pirlo in midfield alongside Daniele De Rossi, with Claudio Marchisio in the playmaker position.

Domenico Criscito got the nod at left back, with Gianluca Zambrotta on the right and Cannavaro and Giorgio Chiellini in central defense.

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Lineups :

Italy : Gianluigi Buffon, Gianluca Zambrotta, Giorgio Chiellini, Fabio Cannavaro, Domenico Criscito, Daniele De Rossi, Riccardo Montolivo, Claudio Marchisio, Simone Pepe, Vincenzo Iaquinta, Alberto Gilardino.

Paraguay : Justo Villar, Claudio Morel, Paulo Da Silva, Aureliano Torres, Antolin Alcaraz, Carlos Bonet, Enrique Vera, Victor Caceres, Cristian Riveros, Nelson Valdez, Lucas Barrios.