This is one of the most anticipated clashes of the group stages of the European Championships, with the reigning Champions taking on Cesare Prandelli’s http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Italy-c2926.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vicente-c36001 Del Bosque’s men will be looking to get off to a winning start in their first match of Group C, taking on Italy at the PGE Arena in Gdansk, at 17.00 GMT on 10th June, 2012.
Italy lost out to the Spaniards for the first time in Euro 2008, a game won by the conversion of the decisive penalty kick by Cesc Fabregas. Spain went on to win that tournament, defeating http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fernando-Torres-c13707
strike.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Spain-c3011
Spain are hot favourites to retain their title as the European Champions, and along with their status as the current reigning World Champions, they do strike fear into the opposition. Their record coming into the European Championships
is pretty impressive.
The Spaniards currently own a 14-match unbeaten run, and their last loss came in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Switzerland-c3016 in the opening match of the 2010 World Cup.
Spain have been impeccable in attack and have shown their superiority and fluency in front of goal by managing to score at least two goals in all their qualifying matches for this tournament. However, history is against Del Bosque’s
men, as no country has successfully retained their title as European Champions.
Thereby, it can be easily concluded that the players are high on confidence and will be expecting progression into the later stages of the tournament.
Italy
Italy have not had the best of starts to preparations for the Euro 2012, as they have lost their last three friendlies, with their most recent loss coming against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Russia-c2991. Russia gave the Italians a run for their money and absolutely
annihilated them with a 3-0 crushing.
The Azzurri have had the upper hand over La Roja, and have only lost once in their last six encounters in major international tournaments. Cesare Prandelli’s men have won three of those matches, with two ending in a stalemate.
However, a key statistic is that Italy have not been beaten by Spain in regulation time at all, with their solitary win coming through penalty kicks.
Cesare Prandelli’s men have to make amends for their abysmal record of late in the European Championships, having won only twice in their previous nine matches in the tournament.
Team News
Spain
Del Bosque’s men will be without the services of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Gerard-c14664 Pique, and
the pair will be making up the heart of the Spanish defence.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fernando-Llorente-c13671 who has been in terrific form for his club Athletic Bilbao; however, the jury is still out on whether Llorente can replicate his form for the national team
and adjust to the dynamics.
The bulk of the goal scoring responsibilities would be transferred on to his strike partner, Fernando Torres, who has had a season to forget for his club. There was a change in his fortunes at the tail end of the season, where
he was able to replicate his lost form; and Casillas and company will be hoping that his form only gets better through the tournament.
Expect a formation of 4-2-3-1 by Del Bosque.
The midfield will be comprised of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Xabi-Alonso-c37045, Xavi and Andres Iniesta with Cesc Fabregas coming off the bench.
Probable starting eleven: Casillas, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alonso-c5254, Busquets, Cazorla, Xavi, Iniesta, Torres.
Italy
The Nazionale have been hampered by injuries to key personnel, and the uncertainty surrounding Italian football following the Scommessopoli scandal has affected their squad with the exclusion of Domenico Criscito in their squad.
Asides from Criscito, an absence which has Prandelli scrambling for options is the thigh strain picked up by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roma-c31603 vice captain, will be deputising
in the centre of defence alongside http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Leonardo-Bonucci-c22064. The Azzurri boss is expected to field a 3-5-2 formation which has been deputised by many Italian clubs through the course of the Serie A season.
A couple of players are carrying knocks, which saw Andrea Pirlo sit out a training session, and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mario-Balotelli-c23937 is carrying a niggle as well.
Probable starting eleven: Buffon, Bonucci, De Rossi, Chiellini, Pirlo, Motta, Marchisio, Nocerino, Montolivo, Di Natale, Cassano.
Players to watch:
Xavi (Spain)
This will be a game essentially won in the midfield, and Xavi’s link-up play with the forward line and the attacking midfielders would be essential to break down the relatively tough Italian defence. His vision
and creativity would be essential for the success of the Spaniards.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Antonio-Cassano-c6302 (Italy)
Despite the fact that this would be a midfield tussle and Pirlo would be the one Italy would be banking on. This is Antonio Cassano’s tournament to make a permanent mark on the international stage and his ingenuity
and craft would be what this Italian team needs to keep them going in this tournament.
Verdict: Both teams will be hoping to get to a winning start which would make this tie a cagey affair with the winner being victorious by the odd goal
Prediction: 2-1
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