FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter today presented the
very first 'FIFA World Champions Badge' to reigning world champions
Italy in Coverciano, Italy. The Squadra Azzurra are the
first national team to receive this badge, which from now on will
be awarded after every FIFA World Cup™ finals competition. The
reigning world champions will be able to wear the badge until the
next FIFA World Cup.
"Wearing a badge to mark the team's triumph
in 2006 is a way to proudly commemorate, day after day, the title
of world champion," said the FIFA President, who personally
congratulated the Italian world champions during their training
session at the Italian Football Association's academy in
Coverciano. "This badge pays tribute to the world champions and is
a gesture of respect and recognition."
"Italy have the honour of being the first
team in the history of the World Cup to wear FIFA's new badge. It
is a source of great pride for the whole of Italian football," said
coach Marcello Lippi.
Gianluigi Buffon, the goalkeeper and captain of the Squadra
Azzurra, added: "We are the world champions, but we would like
to share the joy of wearing the 'FIFA World Champions Badge' on our
shirts with all of the fans who were with us during our
extraordinary journey back in 2006."
There are two different versions of the badge - white on a golden
background and gold on a white background. The FIFA World Cup
Trophy, which was the brainchild of Italian sculptor Silvio
Gazzaniga in 1974, is embroidered on the badge.
The Italians will wear the 'FIFA World Champions Badge' for the
first time on 6 September when they take on Cyprus in the
preliminary competition of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South
Africa™.
There is already a similar badge for the
winners of the FIFA Club World Cup. FIFA presented the first such
badge to 2007 champions AC Milan in February 2008.
