New Delhi: In 1982, Dino Zoff led the Italy to a World Cup triumph at a time when a massive corruption scandal had nearly destroyed the domestic game.
Twenty four years later, the Azzurris found themselves at the same place. Corruption had hit the game as the national team and clubs tried to resurrect their fortunes.
2006 Berlinstadt smoked of deja vu. Fabio Cannavaro led his highly-uninspiring outfit to face a French side that was threatening to run away with the World Cup. And the maestro - Zinedine Zidane - was at work, proving to be the big difference between the two sides.
But as fate would have it, a moment of madness, some say it was conjured by Marco Materazzi, and Zizou did the batterring ram act. Red mist descended as the French lost the plot from there.
As the Berlinstadt erupted in joy, one couldn't help note the blast from the past. After Rossi, it was now Fabio Cannavarro's turn to gift his nation with the greatest footballing prize.
It was a very tough act to execute, to lead a nation whose credibility had hit rock-bottom to the top prize in world football. Cannavaro did whatever it took to get the Azzurris back on the rebound path. Quite rightly that he was chosen FIFA's World Player of the Year.
"It was an outstanding season, a season that really made me satisfied and it is a big honour to be here today," the Italian skipper said on bagging the Player of the Year award.
But the ugly head of match-fixing reared itself again. Italian giants Juventus and AC Milan hung their heads in shame after being implicated.
But the Italians are at their inspiring best when confronted by enormous odds. The Rossoneri made a dramatic improvement to their fortunes as they beat Liverpool to lift the Champions League.
"Italian football has suffered a lot. So, this is a very important victory," Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said after bagging European football's most coveted crown.
Not to be left behind, Juventus also hit the road to redemption. The Turin giants returned to Serie A at the first attempt despite a 9-point deduction linked to the match-fixing verdict. And now they have signed up former Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri to coach them as they look to rebuild their fortunes again, in the Serie A.
"I believe that the most important thing is that many people become Juentus supporters because of the club's style, fashion and seriousness. Last year, there was a tsunami here but what we have to do now is create a new virginity for Juventus," Ranieri says.
We await more magic from the Azzurris.
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