If the whole world is reeling under the FIFA World Cup hysteria, part of the blame lies on Silvio Gazzaniga, the 75-year-old Italian who designed and created world's most coveted trophy.
Milan-born Gazzaniga, who sculpted the FIFA World Cup Trophy after its predecessor -- the Jules Rimet Trophy -- was won outright by Brazil in 1970, is naturally rooting for the Italians and wants them to bring the cup home.
'I'd love Italy to lift the trophy at the end of the tournament.
'For me, that would be the utmost. I'd just love to see it come back home. There's already a lot of Italy in that sculpture, but it would be very satisfying if the Azzurri were to win it again,' he said in an interview to the FIFA official website.
Discounting the reigning World Champions, Gazzaniga said Brazil were not as good as they were in the past.
'I don't think Brazil have been as good as they have in the past. I hope Italy reach the final and they certainly have the ability to do so,'' he added.
The trophy, created by Gazzaniga, is made of 18-carat solid gold, is 36.8cm high and weighs 6.175 kg. The base is adorned with two layers of semi-precious malachite, under which are engraved the names of all FIFA World Cup winners since 1974, and the year of their triumph.
On how it feels to lift the trophy in hand, the artist said it was pure joy but added that the feeling would be stronger in the players.
During a recent reunification with his chef-d'oeuvre, Gazzaniga found out that his creation had some dents.
''I have to say it had a few dents. Of course, I'm not surprised with all the people who've touched it and all the long journeys it's made. It looks new again now and is ready for the presentation,'' the AC Milan fan said.
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