Italy's World Cup 2006 campaign - does this bear an eerie resemblance to the 1982 tournament?

Italy's World Cup 2006 campaign- does this bear an eerie resemblance to the 1982 tournament?

I couldn't watch the semi-final match between Italy and Germany yesterday but I am glad Italy won.

Prior to the start of the 2006 World Cup, the Italian football fraternity was rocked by match fixing and corruption scandals  in the country's famous Seria A football league. Some of the people convited own some of the best clubs in Italian and world football. These clubs are in danger of relegation which is the worst humiliation a club can suffer. Rewind back to 1982 when the same scandal hit Italy and they were playing the World Cup under Paolo Rossi who was banned for 2 years prior to the World Cup on match fixing allegations. Italy went on the lift the cup that year and Rossi became a hero from a pariah. Will history repeat itself this time? We will have to wait for the final on the 9th for answers.

With respect to today's semi between France and Portugal, my favorite is Portugal. Come on folks, Italy and France have already won the World Cup. We need a new winner. Let's hope Portugal prevails.