Italian defenders

My whole football watching life has been peppered with great Italian defenders - Baresi, Maldini, Nesta, Cannavaro etc. They just keep churning them out. I love a good playmaker or a winger and everyone loves a centre forward (except Jason Lee) but there is a weird joy in watching a defender doing his thing and the Italians do it very well. They're not of the class of the ones mentioned above or even as good individually as Pique, Ramos, Kompany or Hummels but teams must hate playing against Chiellini and Bonucci. They certainly had the better of City tonight inspire of the quality facing them. Although having Buffon behind you must make you feel a bit more confident too.