Italy at the FIFA World Cup Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is one of only three players who have been part of five FIFA World Cup squads. Two Italians were awarded the Golden Boot for best goalscorer at a FIFA World Cup: Paolo Rossi in 1982 and Salvatore Schillaci in 1990 with 6 goals each. Golden Ball award Golden Boot award Other individual awards Three World Cup finals have been officiated by representatives of the Italian football federation, only English referees have had the honour more often (four times). The 1978 final between Argentina and the Netherlands has been led by Sergio Gonella, who had already officiated the
1974 FIFA World Cup Group B 1974 FIFA World Cup Group B At the 1974 FIFA World Cup, the eight teams that finished in the top two places in each of the initial four groups were split into two further groups of four teams, labelled Group A and Group B. Group B was made up of the winners of Groups 2 and 4 (Yugoslavia and Poland), and the runners-up from Groups 1 and 3 (West Germany and Sweden). Matches were played between 26 June and 3 July 1974 at venues in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Stuttgart. Having each won both of their first two matches, West Germany