World, get to know Luca Toni! The star Italian striker could have a very big say in who ends up World Cup Champions when France and Italy battle it out on Sunday evening in Germany.  Toni has risen quickly to stardom in Italy after years milling in the Serie B and later Serie A. 

Fully utilizing his tall build (6’4”), he burst onto the stage this year scoring 31 goals for Fiorentina (Florence’s squad) in the Italian Serie A.  Fiorentina, after many dismal years, rode Toni to a 4th place finish and a qualification for the Champions League next season. Toni won the European Golden Boot, scoring the most goals in any of the European Leagues. 

Toni scored his first goal of the World Cup against the Ukraine in the Round of 8, and then added another later on in the same match. 

If Italy is going to beat France they will need a stellar performace from both Toni and Francesco Totti up front, and continued tough defense.  Through six games, the Italian defense has yet to yield a goal (other than the own goal they spotted the USA in the first round).