Manager: Cesare Prandelli
Previous Best: Champions (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006)
Likely Line-up (4-3-3)
| Pos | Name | Age | Caps | Club |
| GK | Buffon* | 36 | 140 | Juventus |
| RB | Abate | 27 | 20 (1) | AC Milan |
| CB | Chiellini* | 29 | 68 (4) | Juventus |
| CB | Bonucci* | 27 | 37 (2) | Juventus |
| LB | De Sciglio | 21 | 11 | AC Milan |
| CM | De Rossi* | 30 | 95 (15) | Roma |
| CM | Pirlo* | 35 | 109 (13) | Juventus |
| CM | Motta | 31 | 20 (1) | Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) |
| RAM | Candreva | 27 | 20 | Lazio |
| LAM | Marchisio* | 28 | 44 (3) | Juventus |
| ST | Ballotelli | 23 | 30 (12) | AC Milan |
* Has appeared at a previous World Cup
Average Age: 27.8
Total Caps: 594
Best Odds: 26/1 (888Sport)
Player to Watch: Mattia De Sciglio
It is a fairly standard approach for coaches preparing a team for a major tournament to schedule friendlies against different types of opponents to sharpen different aspects of their preparation. Friendlies may be scheduled against opponents with a similar style to those they have been drawn against, with a view to testing a game plan for a particular match. Usually closer to the tournament, friendlies may be scheduled against much weaker opponents, when something approaching the first choice team will be played, in the hope of racking up a confidence building, high scoring victory.
The Azzurri have only scheduled 3 friendlies in the window after the conclusion of the club season, but have attempted to tick both boxes. Tonight they completed the second of those 3 friendlies, but so far things are not going according to plan.
In their first game, against the Irish Republic (a proxy for England, their opening opponents of the World Cup), no matter what they might have learned, the loss of captain Riccardo Montolivo to a broken leg left them worse off for having completed the exercise. Tonight's game against Luxembourg, which in theory ought to have been a mismatch, was a laboured affair which ended in an embarrassing draw thanks to a late Luxembourg equaliser. Italy, playing with a selection looking very close to Prandelli's likely first team, scored after only 9 minutes but were unable to score the goals they would have been expected to, before falling to a sucker-punch in the 85th minute. Italy have one more friendly game to prepare, against Brazilian club side Fluminense.
Looking at the team that is likely to face England in that first game, Gianluigi Buffon will start in goal for Italy. At one time the best goalkeeper in the world, Buffon is now 36, but is still without doubt the best option between the posts for Italy. He assumes the captaincy in the absence of Montolivo, and is also dealing with the breakdown of his marriage at the worst possible time.
The back 4 who started tonight are likely to start against England. The fullbacks will be the AC Milan duo of Ignazio Abate at right-back, and Mattia De Sciglio at left-back. Abate is a hardworking and very quick player who is known for surging runs, carrying the ball forward along the touchline. De Sciglio (left) is only 21 years old, and would probably prefer to play on the right, but his adaptability in this regard and his composed style of defending have already brought comparisons with the great Paulo Maldini, from no less than Franco Baresi. If De Sciglio is even half as good as either Maldini or Baresi, both Milan and Italy have uncovered a gem.
The 2 central defenders will be Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, both of Juventus. Both are very capable on the ball and any attempt to shut Italy down by man-marking Pirlo will see them adding his duties to their own. One thing that should be noted is that although they play together at club level, Juventus play with 3 central defenders (with the addition of Andrea Barzagli, who is also in the Italy squad). It will be interesting to see how they adapt to playing as a pairing, rather than in a trio.
Tonight's midfield choice was Andrea Pirlo, Daniele De Rossi and Marco Verratti. Both De Rossi and Pirlo already have World Cup winners medals and will be very well known to most. De Rossi's playing style has compared to Stephen Gerrard's throughout his career, and Pirlo is quite simply a genius. Verratti played tonight, but has never played in a competative international game, and tonights appearance might have been more about improving his match sharpness in case Prandelli needs to call on him, rather than being and indication that he is likely to be a starter. Montolivo would without a doubt have been the third man in midfield, and his absence will mean a rethink is required. Thiago Motta will probably be the man to replace him
The wide position will be filled by Antonio Candreva on the right, and Claudio Marchisio on the left. Candreva has decent pace, excellent technique, and although I have highlighted De Sciglio as my player to watch, Candreva ran him very close. He has had an excellent season for Lazio, finishing as their top-scorer. Marchiso usually plays in a more central role for Juventus, where he is seen as the heir to Pirlo, but playing on the left side his work rate and technical ability should allow him to produce competent performances at the very least.
Prandelli's decision not to select Giuseppe Rossi for his squad has caused consternation in Italy. The toothless performance in front of goal against Luxembourg is only likely to add fuel to that fire. In his absence the enigmatic Mario Ballotelli play as a lone forward.
Italy have a very good looking team on paper, and there is still time for them to iron out the issues they have encounters preparing for this World Cup. Montolivo will be a loss, but they are likely to face a battle to qualify from the group with an England team who for a variety of reasons are missing up to half a dozen players who might have started for them (Kyle Walker, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Andros Townsend, Theo Walcott, Jay Rodriguez). The heat an humidity of Manaus should suit also Italy better than England, though neither side will find it comfortable. I would expect that they will qualify for the knock-out phase in second place behind Uruguay, but the game against England is absolutely crucial.
The Azzurri have only scheduled 3 friendlies in the window after the conclusion of the club season, but have attempted to tick both boxes. Tonight they completed the second of those 3 friendlies, but so far things are not going according to plan.
In their first game, against the Irish Republic (a proxy for England, their opening opponents of the World Cup), no matter what they might have learned, the loss of captain Riccardo Montolivo to a broken leg left them worse off for having completed the exercise. Tonight's game against Luxembourg, which in theory ought to have been a mismatch, was a laboured affair which ended in an embarrassing draw thanks to a late Luxembourg equaliser. Italy, playing with a selection looking very close to Prandelli's likely first team, scored after only 9 minutes but were unable to score the goals they would have been expected to, before falling to a sucker-punch in the 85th minute. Italy have one more friendly game to prepare, against Brazilian club side Fluminense.
Looking at the team that is likely to face England in that first game, Gianluigi Buffon will start in goal for Italy. At one time the best goalkeeper in the world, Buffon is now 36, but is still without doubt the best option between the posts for Italy. He assumes the captaincy in the absence of Montolivo, and is also dealing with the breakdown of his marriage at the worst possible time.
The 2 central defenders will be Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, both of Juventus. Both are very capable on the ball and any attempt to shut Italy down by man-marking Pirlo will see them adding his duties to their own. One thing that should be noted is that although they play together at club level, Juventus play with 3 central defenders (with the addition of Andrea Barzagli, who is also in the Italy squad). It will be interesting to see how they adapt to playing as a pairing, rather than in a trio.
Tonight's midfield choice was Andrea Pirlo, Daniele De Rossi and Marco Verratti. Both De Rossi and Pirlo already have World Cup winners medals and will be very well known to most. De Rossi's playing style has compared to Stephen Gerrard's throughout his career, and Pirlo is quite simply a genius. Verratti played tonight, but has never played in a competative international game, and tonights appearance might have been more about improving his match sharpness in case Prandelli needs to call on him, rather than being and indication that he is likely to be a starter. Montolivo would without a doubt have been the third man in midfield, and his absence will mean a rethink is required. Thiago Motta will probably be the man to replace him
The wide position will be filled by Antonio Candreva on the right, and Claudio Marchisio on the left. Candreva has decent pace, excellent technique, and although I have highlighted De Sciglio as my player to watch, Candreva ran him very close. He has had an excellent season for Lazio, finishing as their top-scorer. Marchiso usually plays in a more central role for Juventus, where he is seen as the heir to Pirlo, but playing on the left side his work rate and technical ability should allow him to produce competent performances at the very least.
Prandelli's decision not to select Giuseppe Rossi for his squad has caused consternation in Italy. The toothless performance in front of goal against Luxembourg is only likely to add fuel to that fire. In his absence the enigmatic Mario Ballotelli play as a lone forward.
Italy have a very good looking team on paper, and there is still time for them to iron out the issues they have encounters preparing for this World Cup. Montolivo will be a loss, but they are likely to face a battle to qualify from the group with an England team who for a variety of reasons are missing up to half a dozen players who might have started for them (Kyle Walker, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Andros Townsend, Theo Walcott, Jay Rodriguez). The heat an humidity of Manaus should suit also Italy better than England, though neither side will find it comfortable. I would expect that they will qualify for the knock-out phase in second place behind Uruguay, but the game against England is absolutely crucial.
No comments:
Post a Comment