Materazzi: "The 2002 World Cup squad was better than the 2006 one"

Marco Materazzi has sparked controversy by claiming that the Italy squad that reached the final of the 2002 World Cup was better than the one that won the tournament in 2006.

Materazzi, who played in both tournaments, said that the 2002 squad had more quality and depth than the 2006 team.

“The 2002 squad was better than the 2006 one,” Materazzi told Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. “We had more quality and depth in 2002. We had players like Totti, Del Piero, Inzaghi, and Nesta. In 2006, we had a great team, but we didn’t have the same quality in depth.”

Materazzi’s comments have sparked debate among Italian football fans. Some fans agree with Materazzi, arguing that the 2002 squad was more talented and had a better chance of winning the World Cup. Other fans disagree, pointing out that the 2006 team actually won the tournament.

It is difficult to say definitively which squad was better. Both teams had their strengths and weaknesses. The 2002 squad had more attacking quality, while the 2006 squad was more defensively solid. Ultimately, it is up to each individual fan to decide which squad they believe was better.

Materazzi’s comments are sure to continue to be debated for years to come. They are a reminder of the great rivalry between the two Italy squads that reached the World Cup final in 2002 and 2006.