(AGI) - Duisburg, 9 June - "On behalf of the whole team, I want to thank you for the great welcome you gave us. We know there are many Italians here in Germany, thank you all and let's go Italy" Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro told the supporters that came to the MSV arena stadium in Duisburg, where Italy played against a local youth team. A huge roar arose when the speakers read out the names of Del Piero, Inzaghi and Totti. Italian flags were all over the place. Fortunately, it was a pleasant evening, with a mild temperature. The positive contact with the fans, which the Federation wanted so much, did happen.

Gennaro Gattuso has been ruled out of Italy's opening World Cup game against Ghana with a thigh injury and may miss the Azzurri's second match on June 17 when they play the United States.

"Gattuso will miss one or two games," the Italy team doctor Enrico Castellacci confirmed yesterday, adding that the midfielder would probably need 15 days to recover from the muscle strain.

AAP - The Socceroos have survived a huge pre-World Cup scare from tiny Liechtenstein, scoring twice in the final 15 minutes to post a 3-1 friendly win in Ulm.

Substitute Joshua Kennedy scored in the 75th minute with a header to break a 1-1 deadlock and John Aloisi put the issue beyond doubt with Australia's third goal some seven minutes from time.

Finally the World Cup is back in Europe! Hopefully for Italian fans, the Non-European Nation curse (Only European nations have ever won the World Cup since Brazil in 1958 in Sweden while being contested in Europe) comes true. Forza Italia!

But who are the main contenders for the cup? I'm here to preview, according to betting odds, the top 10 favourites. I begin with number 10.