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 Luca Toni
Italy | Forward Age: 29 Toni arrived at the World Cup with a reputation for scoring goals in Europe's toughest league for strikers. As of Italy's last 16 win over Australia, he is yet to find the net, although bad luck has played its part in that as much as bad form, with woodwork, goalkeepers and defenders conspiring to thwart the Fiorentina star. But Italian coach Marcello Lippi's apparent uncertainty over his best line-up and formation hasn't helped either, with the Azzurri not yet looking entirely comfortable despite their progress. Toni has been a late developer, plying his trade with a number of lower league Italian clubs. He first came to prominence by scoring 13 goals for struggling Brescia in 2001-2 before hitting a remarkable 50 goals in two seasons to help Palermo establish themselves in Serie A. The goals continued to flow following a $10 million move to Fiorentina, with Toni topping the Serie A goal charts and helping the rejuvenated Florence side into a Champions League position. He also consolidated his first-choice status in the Italian side with a hat-trick in a World Cup qualifying win over Belarus. Although the Golden Boot may yet be out of reach, Italy's World Cup hopes will depend on their leading striker finally finding the net. 
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