Estonia |
1 - 2
This match has ended. Upcoming related matches:
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Italy |
Estonia vs Italy Live Streams and TV Channels
| Country | Channels |
|---|---|
| International | UEFA Match Centre »live stream |
| United States | RAI Internazionale |
| Other Countries | |
| Australia | RAI Internazionale |
| Austria | RAI Uno |
| Belgium | RAI Uno |
| Bulgaria | RAI Uno |
| Canada | RAI Internazionale |
| Croatia | RAI Uno |
| Czech Republic | RAI Uno |
| Denmark | RAI Uno |
| Estonia | RAI Uno |
| Finland | RAI Uno |
| France | RAI Uno |
| Germany | RAI Uno |
| Greece | RAI Uno |
| Hungary | RAI Uno |
| Iceland | RAI Uno |
| Indonesia | RAI Internazionale |
| Italy | RAI Uno |
| Latvia | RAI Uno |
| Lithuania | RAI Uno |
| Luxembourg | RAI Uno |
| Macedonia | RAI Uno |
| Malta | RAI Uno |
| Netherlands | RAI Uno |
| Philippines | RAI Internazionale |
| Poland | RAI Uno |
| Portugal | RAI Uno |
| Romania | RAI Uno |
| Slovakia | RAI Uno |
| Slovenia | RAI Uno |
| Sweden | RAI Uno |
| Turkey | RAI Uno |
| *Don't see your country or favourite channel listed? Let us know and we will include it. | |
Estonia vs Italy Delayed and Repeat Broadcasts
| Country | Date/Time (US/Eastern) | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Fri, Sep 03 19:00pm | ESPN Deportes |
| *Don't see your country or favourite channel listed? Let us know and we will include it. | ||
Estonia vs Italy Match Preview
Italy will look to make amends for an abysmal performance at this summer's World Cup when they take on Estonia in Group C of the Euro2012 Qualifying campaign. The Azzurri exited the World Cup in ignominy after they failed to manage a single win in a relatively modest group that contained Slovakia, New Zealand, and Paraguay. It was a humiliating outing for the then defending champions due in no small part to coach Marcello Lippi's reliance on the ageing legs of the 2006 winners. Captain Fabio Cannavaro looked a yard off pace, while players like Gianluca Zambrotta proved simply mediocre.
Cesare Prandelli's arrival at the helm has brought with it some respite as he has vowed to mould the team not according to the reputation of the Berlin heroes, but youth and competence. For perhaps political reasons, Lippi opted to leave the likes of Antonio Cassano home during the World Cup, arguing implicitly, and not entirely unconvincingly, that players like him disrupt squad harmony notwithstanding their undeniable talent. Prandelli, however, has no such reservations and has selected Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano (pictured) in a recent friendly against the Ivory Coast.
It is precisely Prandelli's refreshing dynamism that will signal the biggest relief for Italy fans. For all of Lippi's success, there was pervasive suspicion that he was pro-Juve. However, his staunchest supporters would argue that Juventus have always traditionally been the team to provide the spine of many Italy sides in the past. Further, they will also add that Lippi won the World Cup with players like Fabio Grosso and Vincenzo Iaquinta, who, at the time, played for the less fashionable Palermo and Udinese respectively. Even allowing for those cogent arguments, Prandelli still seems more amenable to change.
Team News
Prandelli looks set to experiment with an audacious 4-3-3. Palermo's Salvatore Sirigu will deputize for the injured goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, while Juventus duo Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini will form the central defence pairing. The trident up front in all probability will be comprised of Cassano, his clubmate Giampaolo Pazzini, and Juventus's Simone Pepe. It is an attack that gives width but also the requisite craft in the middle, as Cassano and Pazzini are more than capable creative outlets.
Estonia will be playing at home in the capital city of Tallinn, and they will know that despite Italy's recent trials, they will do well to steal a point. It is certainly not outside the realm of possibility as Italy are still struggling to impose a distinct style of play under Prandelli.
Prediction
Italy are certainly not the team that they once were, but their critical fans will still expect an emphatic victory tomorrow, which will usher in a new era. However, the most likely result is a pragmatic 1-0 Italy win.
Estonia vs Italy Match Report
Italy narrowly beat Estonia 2-1 in Tallinn to once again galvanize the debate over the future of the Azzurri. It took a goal and a clever assist from Antonio Cassano to overcome Estonia as Italy struggled to impose their authority on the game.As expected, coach Cesare Prandelli fielded a 4-3-3 in his first competitive game in charge. Cassano slotted in alongside Simone Pepe and Sampdoria teammate Giampaolo Pazzini in attack.
Yet for all of Italy's bold formation, it was Estonia who took the lead in the 30th minute. Vassiljev delivered a thunderous free-kick, and Salvatore Sirigu, who replaced the injured Gianluigi Buffon in goal, could only parry the ball into the path of a waiting Zenjov.
Rather than be stunned into vigorous action, Italy almost capitulated entirely when after the goal Puri of Estonia delivered a shot that grazed the crossbar.
It took Andrea Pirlo and Cassano to equalize. In the 60th minute, Pirlo delivered a looping corner that Cassano headed home.
Three minutes later Cassano was again a central figure as he instinctually flicked a Pirlo corner into the path of Leonardo Bonucci, who made no mistake from close range.
Although Italy saw out the result, a scrappy 2-1 win over Estonia will do little to placate the abounding critics. However, what is crucial to note is that Prandelli's first official game ended in victory, no matter how unconvincingly achieved.