Here we go.
Prandelli can cement a good tournament tonight by beating an
England
team that looks more determined and confident than they have for about a
decade.
SELECTIONS
Two key decisions look likely to define the big game for Italy. Will
Prandelli keep faith in the quiet but efficient Thiago Motta? Or will he be
tempted to play his 'lost son' Ricardo Montolivo?
Montolivo is a better passer but much weaker and lazier than
Motta, who does everything relatively well. Against a team as physically strong
as England,
it is a big risk to play the Fiorentina man. We'll also miss Motta's heading
ability when defending set pieces. Something tells me Prandelli is determined
to be positive and feels like he doesn't need an orc to break into England's
Helm's Deep of a defence, but a bit of extra cunning.
The other selection dilemma perhaps isn't one at all: who
will partner Cassano? Both Di Natale and Balotelli have impressed more as a
substitute, but impetus seems to be with the Man City
man, Super Mario.
If Balotelli isn't fired up now, to answer the relentless
doubts raised about him by the English press, over and over, all season long -
a press who have ridiculed him despite his big contribution to Manchester City's title win - well, then he simply
isn't human. These are the games he was selected for. If ever we need Mario and
not Wario, it's today. I expect to see Balotelli start and I must expect him to
be totally motivated. The biggest worry is isn’t a bad performance (every
player can have those) but an angry one. Mario must find his inner-Yoshi to
slot away the chances.
Of course, Chiellini is missing and his Juventus stand-ins
must bring their very best game tonight. Nothing short of that will see us
through.
TEAM SET-UP
Taking all that into account, we can expect the following
line-up in Prandelli's trusted (by him, anyway!) 4-1-3-2:
BUFFON
ABATE BARZAGLI BONUCCI BALZARETTI
PIRLO
MONTOLIVO DE ROSSI MARCHISIO
BALOTELLI CASSANO
Italy
will likely dominate posession and it is going to come down to how much they
can capitalize on their periods of pressure. So far, that has been there
weakness. Had we been more ruthless, we'd have beaten both Spain and Croatia. Cassano and Balotelli need
to more clinical and more direct. Behind them, Marchisio and De Rossi must run
from deep and Pirlo must find the time to probe England's solid but slightly
immobile centre backs.
England's
counters must be cut out early as we are weak when it comes to defending
crosse4s in the box and Welbeck and Rooney are good at finishing them. To avoid
uncertainty, Balza and Abate must be quick on their heels to nip Young and
Milner early. One worry with Abate is if he lets Young wriggle into the box.
Abate is rather clumsy and I'd hate to see us lose by giving away a penalty.
We can theorise forever, but ultimately, Italy must
allow their more creative tendancies to flourish, work themselves a foothold
and show a real desire to recover the ball early and isolate Gerrard and Rooney. Players such as Marchisio,
Balotelli and Montolivo will need to show a strength of character we haven’t yet seen from them before. If ever we needed a suprise hero, a goal from midfield, or a red hot striker, it's tonight.
Ultimately, the azzurri will have to show the courage of their convictions to
create something special tonight and put a spirited England team to the sword.
FORZA.
