Juventus defender Fabio Cannavaro says the world fears Italy ahead of next year's World Cup in South Africa.

Cannavaro is confident of a successful defence of their 2006 crown.

The former Real Madrid centre-half declared: "We are world champions ... I've also lived abroad and I can tell you that there is great respect and consideration towards us.

"They know that we have won four World Cups, we've made two finals with Brazil and that we are tough ... The people and the experts fear us."