Victory for Canna
Cannavaro's defense technique is in a class of its own. He makes up for his size with jumps that shoot him up to six foot four and with powerful arms and upper torso.
Beckham's highs and lows
Defending done Italian-style, and Cannavaro-style, has a particular deftness and importance to it -- a great game of football for the Azzurri is more about the goals brilliantly and tactically prevented rather than the goals wonderfully scored. And this captain has been credited for his foresight in figuring out the way a game will unravel and making interceptions accordingly. As well as for his speed and perfect tackles.
He told The Guardian a few years back that a defender must make maximum use of his arms and that the game was all about 'Marcare, marcare, marcare! (marking)'.
He and Alessandro Nesta made a formidable team this World Cup on German fields till the latter retired due to injury.
Photograph: Daniel Garcia/Getty Images
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