With both teams exceeding all expectations in their respective opening matches, the second round tie between Italy and Croatia would be one to savour.
The Azzurri take on the Vatreni in their second game of the European Championships, and the tie will be played out on June 14, 2012 at 17.00 GMT. The match will be played at the Stadion Miejski in Poznan.
The last match played between these two sides was back in August 2006, where Italy lost to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Eduardo-c12034 getting on the score sheet. The match was a friendly, and it is interesting to note that the two
goal scorers are part of Slaven Bilic’s side in the Euro 2012.
Italy
La Nazionale entered the tournament on the back of a defeat against the Russians on 1st June, 2012. It was a relatively heavy defeat at the hands of d**k Advocaat’s men, with Cesare Prandelli’s men succumbing to a 3-1
loss in the friendly.
Pressure was mounting on the Azzurri, and asides from the three consecutive losses they suffered before the tournament’s start; Italian football has been engulfed in another match-fixing scandal. This time it is the Scommessopoli
scandal which has cast a dark cloud over the Italian camp, just like the Calciopoli did in 2006.
However, the Italians bounced back with an absolutely brilliant performance against the reigning European champions in their first match of the group stages. Cesare Prandelli played with a 3-5-2 formation which suited the squad
they had and they did not give the Spaniards much chance of penetrating their defence. Even when la Roja were successful, Gigi Buffon was more than up to the challenge to thwart any attempts on goal.
Croatia
Slaven Bilic’s side produced one of the most impressive performances of the group stages and played great enterprising football. They did not let http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Giovanni-c14985 Trapattoni’s men rest, and had a field day against them.
Luka Modric was sensational for the Blazers as his ingenuity and passing flabbergasted the Irish midfield and defence.
The Irish did not possess as stiff a challenge for the Croats as Italy will, however, Bilic’s side gave Trapattoni’s men a master class in playing football at the highest level.
However, Croatia has had a mixed bag when viewing their last five matches but they have only lost once in their last five matches, in which they have drawn twice.
Team News
Italy
Cesare Prandelli must be thanking his lucky stars that there was no further dismay as all the players came off unharmed from their first match of the group stages. However, Prandelli is expected to tinker just a little bit with
his squad.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mario-Balotelli-c23937 put in a disappointing performance against the holders of the European Cup and played most of the match with his back towards the goal. Besides that he was also found wanting on key moments, when his indecisiveness
got the better of him and he was unable to make the right choice on whether to pass or shoot when in a promising situation.
Di Natale came on for Balotelli and made an immediate impact and chances are that he will be paired against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Antonio-Cassano-c6302 for the match against the Croats.
Emanuele Giaccherini debuted for the Azzurri and had a great first match in the Azzurri colours and will be starting in their next match as well.
All the other players are expected to start with the same formation.
Probable starting line-up: Buffon, Bonucci, Chiellini, De Rossi, Marchisio, Motta, Giaccherini, Pirlo, Maggio, Di Natale, Cassano.
Croatia
The Vatreni would be deploying the same team that annihilated the Boys in Green on Sunday. Mandzukic was instrumental in attack for Slaven Bilic, and opened the scoring three minutes into the start of the play.
Slaven Bilic would be fielding an unchanged side with an expected 4-4-2 formation with a diamond formation for the midfield.
Probable starting eleven: Pletikosa, Strinic, Schildenfeld, Corluka, Srna, Vukojevic, Perisic, Rakitic, Modric, Jelavic, Mandzukic.
Players to watch
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Spain-c3011 and was by far the best player on the night. Prandelli would need him to be at his sublime best throughout the tournament
for further progression, and De Rossi seems to be the hungriest on the field during the match.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Luka-Modric-c22857 (Croatia): Mandzukic and Jelavic would find it a lot tougher against the Italian defence, so it will be up to the Tottenham player to thread passes and look for opportunities in the watertight Italian
defence.
Verdict: An exciting encounter awaits us as the two teams will be looking for the win to take them one step closer to qualification into the next round. The opening half hour would be a cagey affair, but expect
end to end football in this match (Prediction: 2-1)
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