The former Fiorentina boss has created a united, loyal front within the ranks of his squad, and has gradually introduced a young group of eager professionals that understand and fit his narrow tactical 4-3-1-2 system superbly. Gone are the days of Marcelo Lippi’s experienced but stagnated team. Prandelli’s Italy are by no means lacking maturity, with Andrea Pirlo and Gigi Buffon still major parts of the set-up, but the players now possess the passion and ability to get the country back onto the centre-stage of world football.
2 goals conceded in 10 games (the best in Europe) tells its only story regarding the Azzurri’s qualifying campaign, where they remained undefeated. This stat shares similarities with the Juventus team of this season, who unsurprisingly also provide the majority of players to the national team rearguard. Buffon is back to his majestic best as one of the top goalkeepers in world football, with Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci set to protect their team mate in the centre of defence against us. To add to this, Federico Balzeretti and Ignazio Abate are both highly consistent performers who find themselves in the full-back positions. There has not been an Italian side in recent memory that fit the resilient, strong defensive stereotype as much as this one does, calling them the tightest defence in the international game wouldn’t be a stretch too far.
Nevertheless, to talk about this Italian team and to only mention the strong defensive side of it’s game would be a travesty. One of the main factors in the excellent goals against stat has been the ability of Prandelli to implement an excellent passing game, one that made them second only to the Spanish in percentage of possession over the past 18 months. This factor alone has benefited the back-line considerably. After all, you can’t score a goal if you don’t have the ball. The sometimes ‘tika-taka’ style of play the Southern European nation has adopted has grown out of the narrow midfield quadrant of the rejuvenated Andrea Pirlo, acting as the ‘regista’, with Daniele De Rossi and Claudio Marchisio doing the dirty work on top of their attacking duties, where they compliment either Thiago Motta or Ricardo Montilivo, who will find themselves in the unfamiliar position further forward in the ‘trequartista’ role. Gone are the days of a rigid, overly defensive Italian teams. Prandelli has created a fluid system based around the excellence of the midfield, most notably Andrea Pirlo, who has enjoyed an Indian summer recently. Wayne Rooney will be given the task of dropping back to put pressure on the pass-master, if he fails with this job then he’ll find himself in Kiev airport a few hours later.
In terms of the Azzurri’s forward line, the players in possession of the jerseys are far less set in stone than the rest of the side. Partly due to the depth of the striking options, but mostly down to the extreme personalities they hold. Antonio Cassano is the boss’s first choice and most used striker, but after his minor stroke only a few months ago, he is still not 100%. Another ‘fantasista’ the Azzurri have at their disposal is everyone’s favourite Italian, Mr.Balotelli. His over critiqued off-field problems have not found shelter with Prandelli, who still seems reluctant to give the extremely talented individual a responsible, regular role in the side. Yet, in these two high-wired players, Italy has one of the most feared and unpredictable partnerships in the tournament, coupled Antonio Di Natale they have depth in the goal-scoring department. Terry and Lescott will no doubt have their work out cut out considering the exceptional movement these players possess. Particularly Cassano, who seems to favour drifting out to the left during games. Hodgson will be aware of this and would have drilled his team for the possible outcome.
On the whole though, this Italian team has all the key ingredients to cause a ‘surprise’ tomorrow and in the competition overall. Don’t be shocked if it turns out to be a Calcio summer.
@paulhill3
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