Seven members of Italy's World Cup-winning team are among 50 players in the running for the 2006 European Footballer of the Year award - the Ballon d'Or .
They are goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, defenders Fabio Cannavaro, Fabio Grosso and Gianluca Zambrotta, midfielders Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso, and striker Luca Toni .
The prestigious prize, awarded each year by the France Football magazine, is set to revive the rivalry between the Azzurri and France, the team they beat in July's World Cup final .
France have 11 players on the list, which the magazine will officially present on Tuesday, more than any other country. Italy are next, followed by Germany with six contenders and England with five .
Somewhat controversially, the French contingent features Zinedine Zidane, who was sent off in the World Cup final for headbutting Italy's Marco Materazzi. The list also includes France and Inter midfielder Patrick Vieira and AC Milan's Brazil star Kaka, the two non-Italian contenders who play in Serie A. Italy's best hope probably lies with World Cup-winning captain Cannavaro of Real Madrid. The main Italian absentees from the list are Materazzi and AS Roma captain Francesco Totti, who many believe to be Italy's most gifted player. Totti, however, was below his best at Germany 2006, as he had not regained top form after breaking his leg in February .
The last Italian to be crowned European Footballer of the Year was Roberto Baggio, who claimed the prize in 1993 .
Prior to that three Italians had taken the Ballon d'Or .
In 1982 Paolo Rossi, whose goals helped Italy win the World Cup that year, came out on top. In 1969 the prize went to the 'golden boy' of Italian soccer, AC Milan's Gianni Rivera. Juventus star Omar Sivori won in 1961 .
Italy have 10 players among the 55 in the running for the 2006 FIFA World Player of the Year award .
They are the seven selected by France Football, plus Totti, Materazzi and AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta .
The FIFA prize will be awarded in Athens on November 6. Photo: goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon
