Italy Euro 2012: An Analysis

During the summer of 2012, many Italian footballers in some of the clubs were caught in match-fixing scandals, which brought down the expectation of Italy fans regarding their nation ahead of world cup. But, putting up a very impressive nation, Italy won the world cup 2006. And now, in this summer, some of the Serie A clubs were caught in match-fixing scandals. Can the luck favour once again for Azzuris?

Italy coach, Cesare Prandelli has brought down the average age of players in the squad from 30+ in world cup 2010 to 27.5 in Euro 2012. So, we can expect much more pace and obviously, considerably higher performance than last world cup. As some of the players will be most probably playing their last major tournament (with the likes of Pirlo, Buffon, Di Natale), they will be trying to finish the things off in style.

Goal Keepers:

Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (SSC Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain FC).

Expected Starter: Buffon

Gianluigi Buffon played a pivotal role in world cup 2006 triumph. But in 2010 WC, he was injured in the first half in the opening match for Italy against Paraguay and he was substituted in the second half. The Juventus’s stopper played only 45 minutes in the WC 2010. In order to overcome this major disappointment and looking forward to finish his international career in style, it is expected that Buffon will be giving his maximum effort that he can afford to his nation. Buffon is the keeper, who provided more no. of clean sheets than any other keeper in Serie A last season and this fact will make Prandelli, not to consider the second choice goalie.

Defenders:

Ignazio Abate (AC Milan), Federico Balzaretti (US Città di Palermo), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Christian Maggio (SSC Napoli), Angelo Ogbonna (Torino FC).

Expected starters: Maggio, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chellini

Maggio-Treasure of Napoli:

Cristian Maggio enjoyed the wonderful 2011-2012 season at Naples. The Right-back can cause some serious problems to the opponents with his pace. Napoli’s full back is well-known for playing beautiful 1-2’s. Though Abate came up with a fine performance last season, the pace of Milan’s Abate which is considerably less that of Napoli’s Maggio, will certainly make Prandelli to go with Maggio as right-back.

Impressive Juve’s Trio:

Bonnuci, Barzagli and Chiellini played crucial roles in the lossless streak of Juventus, last season.

Barzagli produced a great impact in his first season at Turin, after getting signed from the German side Wolfsburg. Barzagli played all the matches for Juventus last season. His style of tacking is almost similar to the tackling style of Man City’s Vincent Kompany.

Bonnuci had tough first season with the Turin side, after getting signed from Bari in 2010 at the age of 23. But, the centre-back bounced back in his second season and guided Juventus in winning their first Serie A title in 6 years.

Chellini had been remarkably outstanding throughout the last season. Chellini’s pace had made him to compare with the world’s best left-back at present, Ashley Cole.

Midfielders:

Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Alessandro Diamanti (Bologna FC), Emanuele Giaccherini (Juventus) Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (ACF Fiorentina), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint-Germain FC), Antonio Nocerino (AC Milan), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus).

Expected Starters: De Rossi, Marchisio, Pirlo, Montolivo

Why Montolivo? Not Aquilani?

Aquilani was not included not even in Prandelli’s 32-men preliminary squad. Prandelli didn’t pick Aquilani might be because of considering the amount of time in which the player was in pitch. Aquilani had a fantastic first half of the season. But after the injury in January, Aquilani was not provided with enough time to play.

In the beginning of the season, when Liverpool loaned Aquilani to Milan, it was stated in the agreement that Milan should permanently sign the former Roma Midfielder if he had made 25 appearances with the Milan shirt for 6M. Berlusconi, Galliani and Allegri might thought of Montolivo, who would be available for free in 2012 summer and the 6M they want to spend for not providing Aquilani to complete his 25-match clause.

So, though Aquilani was more technically gifted than Montolivo, the amount of time in the pitch, had paved the way for Montolivo to represent the nation.

Pride of Rome:

At the age of 22, after entering as 61^st minute substitute in 2006 WC finals for his club-mate Totti, De Rossi made an impressive impact in the remaining part of the game. De Rossi too scored in the penalty shoot-outs, in which Italy defeated France, 5-3. De Rossi can be operated as a defensive midfielder or a centre back. After losing 3 consecutive games at the end of March, Enrique made De Rossi to play as a centre-back where he proved himself as a defender too. With the better quality of passing and tackling, De Rossi will be playing the crucial role in defensive midfield for Italy in the grand tournament.

Fantastic Juve’s Pair:

Pirlo and Marchisio had a fantastic season with the Turin side. The play-makers created many chances for their forwards to score, Andrea Pirlo, who played a crucial role in world cup 2006 with Gattuso in midfield, will be trying to end his international career in style. Pirlo is noted for his long-range shooting and passing accuracy.

Forwards:

Mario Balotelli (Manchester City FC), Fabio Borini (AS Roma), Antonio Cassano (AC Milan), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese Calcio), Sebastian Giovinco (FC Parma).

Expected Starters: Balotelli, Cassano

How severe the loss of Gisuppe Rossi is?

Villareal rejected the 35M bid for Rossi from Barcelona in the summer of 2011. Rossi played the pivotal role in 2010-2011 season in taking the Spanish side to champions league. But two successive injuries -one in October and the second in March- impacted on Villareal’s performance in champions league and La Liga. Without Rossi, Villareal failed to find the nets often and the team which played champions league last season got relegated. Rossi’s reputation can be judged by the relegation of Villareal. Rossi’s injury was a big set back for Prandelli.

Cassano and Super Mario:

Though Cassano was injured last October, he made himself available in March and the class of Cassano made Prandelli not to think off his form. Balotelli having the nick-name of super Mario had an impressive first half of the season. But, his behaviour made Mancinni to consider him not as a regular starter. Balotelli’s pick ahead of Quagliarelle was a surprise anyhow.

FORMATION:

Prandelli will be going with 4-4-2 formation, making Balotelli and Cassano to play upfront. Marchisio will be playing in the left midfield; Montolivo in the right; Pirlo in the centre and De Rossi in the defensive midfield. Juventus’s trio and Napoli’s Maggio will be serving as blocks infront Buffon.