Passport? Check. Sunglasses? Check. Vuvuzela? Hmm perhaps not. With a stroke of Alberto Gilardino’s foot in the 90th minute in Dublin on Saturday night, La Nazionale confirmed their place at next year’s World Cup. The Fiorentina hit man described it as ‘the most important goal of his international career so far’, and boy was he right.

As Italians around the peninsula, and worldwide, are now safe in the knowledge they will see the Azzurri in next summer’s showpiece event, I thought it would be fitting to discuss the international news. Singularly the most watched, and talked about sporting event there is...la Coppa del Mondo. However, it is only a matter of time before the joy of qualification will spark the debate of which individuals will make the trip. The Italian qualifying campaign has hardly set the world alight. The likes of Spain and the Netherlands have received the plaudits for their sparkling performances, but it is a traditionally rugged and stubborn Italy that has forced its way to yet another World Cup.

Despite calls for the reconstruction of an ageing side, Marcello Lippi has confidence in the ability of this side. However, as was demonstrated in the Confederations Cup, against sides like Brazil and Spain, this squad will struggle to compete in the latter stages of the competition. I accept that the experience brought by these players is second to none, but without the legs to carry that experience, they will surely fail to defend the title they won in Berlin. Many of the players involved in the class of 2006 who are still around to tell the tale, have lost that yard of pace, or perhaps the ability to make that telling pass or even that cutting edge. As the old saying goes, form is temporary, class is permanent. However, being over-run by sides in good form and with inferior class is a very likely probability next summer. The key component of the winning side of almost four years ago, was that many of the players were in their prime footballing years. Francesco Totti, 29, Andrea Pirlo and Rino Gattuso, 27 and 28 respectively, and Alessandro Nesta, 28. That side was unique. Gone were the dull defence-minded tactics, they created a brand of attacking football that had not been seen in an Italy side for a long time. From the 3-0 win over Ukraine to Fabio Grosso’s last minute winner against Germany in the semi-final, it was a special tournament for many.

To many, it would have made perfect sense to use the period between World Cups, as a transitional period. To integrate a younger generation. Not just to give the likes of Claudio Marchisio and Domenico Criscito a game here or there. Perhaps the short reign of Roberto Donadoni, who was so scared of changing the winning formula that had seen Italy win the World Cup the previous year, halted the progress of the next crop of talent. Before their dominance on the European stage last year, and their record-equalling unbeaten run, Spain were a nation labelled as underachievers for many years as their youngsters blossomed. Now look at them. Xavi, Torres, Villa, Fabregas. A side of champions. Sooner rather than later, the likes of Fabio Cannavaro and Andrea Pirlo will not be around to dig the Azzurri out of a hole, and then the youngsters will be thrust into action. A case of running before you can walk perhaps.

I’m not the first fan to comment on Mr Lippi’s selection policy, and I’m sure I will not be the last. However, it is the silver-haired tactician who makes the decisions, and he hasn’t failed us thus far. He has successfully guided the side through qualification, and I have the upmost faith he will deliver in South Africa. With no less than seven months till the World Cup kicks off, who will be, or perhaps should be, on that plane to South Africa? Should Totti be recalled? Should the young pretenders such as Giovinco and Balotelli be given the chance? Or should we rest out hopes on the experienced veterans that have got us this far? More importantly, with such a strong Bianconeri presence, have our boys got what it takes to transfer domestic success this season to the national stage? It could prove to be a fantastic year for Cannavaro and the boys.