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Italy vs Faroe Islands Match Preview

After an unconvincing 2-1 win over Estonia, Italy take on Faroe Islands in Florence on Tuesday.  Coach Cesare Prandelli lamented recently that Italy lacked confidence at half-time of their first encounter, signaling in the process that Italian shortcomings may be more psychological than anything else.  Admittedly, the Azzurri have looked timid, even when compared to the 2008 version under Roberto Donadoni, a team that, if nothing else, could play out a pragmatic 0-0 draw (Euro2008) with Spain.  The current Italian side needs to find a combination of that self-belief and a distinct identity that will let them impose their authority on a game.

Prandelli has somewhat of a selection headache ahead of tomorrow’s game.  What is becoming increasingly clear is that a reformed Antonio Cassano, the erstwhile petulant talent of Italian football, is the man around whom the new Italy will be built.  He looks to keep his place in attack as Prandelli experiments with a 4-3-2-1.  Fiorentina’s Alberto Gilardino is set to spearhead the attack in front of Cassano and Giuseppe Rossi.  It is a variation of a 4-3-3 that worked moderately well against Estonia.  However, Rossi and Cassano bring different qualities in attack.  Rossi is an enterprising, speedy forward, while Cassano likes to carve out chances in close spaces as a more traditional playmaker. 

Player Focus: Antonio Cassano

Cassano has been confessing how he has repudiated his unflattering past--that includes high-profile spats with coaches, media outbursts, and poor discipline on the field--after coming perilously close to leaving football altogether.  He even took responsibility for former coach Marcello Lippi leaving him out of the squad by saying that "it is [his] fault" that he was excluded.  For all of his magnanimity, Cassano is still the player with the most swagger on the field, a quality that is at a premium in the current Italian side. Indeed, Mario Balotelli certainly operates with a degree of arrogance, but Cassano is finally channeling his unflinching self-regard into more productive outlets.  No longer the prodigal talent with a finger on the self-destruct button, the 28-year-old Cassano could be the player to lead Italy for the next four years.

The formation

With a 4-3-2-1 Italy certainly lose width in attack.  Simone Pepe, for one, does not figure into a narrower formation.  However, with Rossi and Cassano Italy have a more dynamic feel.  The key will be to keep possession and slowly build up the tempo.  When Italy are chasing a game, as they have done so often this year, they play in panic.  If Italy get the go-ahead goal tomorrow, then Prandelli may relinquish a wider 4-3-3 altogether.

Prediction

At home Italy should easily dispose of the Faroe Islands. 2-0 Italy.

 

 

 

Italy vs Faroe Islands Match Report

Italy roared to a 5-0 win over Faroe Islands as Antonio Cassano provided a virtuoso performance. Though it was lowly Faroe Islands that Italy vanquished, a 5-0 win will doubtless invigorate a team under so much criticism.

Italy started with three up front as Cassano and Giuseppe Rossi took their positions alongside Alberto Gilardino. The midfield had an incredibly creative disposition with Andrea Pirlo, Daniele De Rossi, and Riccardo Montolivio, one of the few bright spots of Italy’s most recent World Cup outing, slotting in front of a defence of Lorenzo De Silvestri, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, and Antonelli. Emiliano Viviano replaced Salvatore Sirigu in goal..

As expected Italy warmed to the partisan crowd in Florence and started pressing a bewildered Faroe Islands early. Pirlo floated in a free-kick that eluded all but bounced wide of the goal. Moments later Montolivio combined well with Cassano in a clever move that saw the former lob the ball in for the latter; however, Montolivio’s cross was collected neatly by Nielsen in the Faroe Islands goal.

However, in the 12th minute the goalkeeper could do nothing about a Pirlo corner that Gilardino headed home. It was a goal redolent of Italy’s equalizer against Estonia, which Pirlo had delivered for the head of Cassano. Italy comfortably stroked the ball around after the goal, playing with a sense of composure sorely absent from their recent encounters. Cassano carved open a hapless Faroe Islands defence with a mazy run and a quick pass, but Gilardino could not capitalize on the service from close range.

In the 20th minute, Rossi could have finished off his own spectacular dribble past the Faroe Islands’ defence, but his shot was blocked by the goalkeeper, and Cassano’s subsequent effort bounced wide.

The pressure was insufferable for Faroe Islands, and De Rossi’s goal from close range—set up by Cassano’s pass to Bonucci, who, in turn, passed to De Rossi in the middle of the penalty area—had an air of inevitability. His first, instinctual shot ricocheted back off defenders, but he made no mistake in the rebound, slamming it home emphatically off a defender.

In the 28th minute Cassano made it 3-0 with a remarkable finish. Gliding into a shooting positon at the edge of the penalty area, he released a dipping shot that left the goalkeeper with no chance.

A drubbing seemed to be on the cards but the score remained 3-0 until half-time. Thirteen minutes into the second half, coach Cesare Prandelli gave himself the luxury of trying out Fabio Quagliarella and Giampaolo Pazzini in place of Rossi and Gilardino. The move paid dividends ten minutes from time, when Quagliarella stabbed the ball into the goal after Pazzini had pounced on a terrific pass from Montolivio.

There was time for a memorable finish. In the 89th minute, Pirlo curved in a trademark free-kick to complete the 5-0 rout and send Italy to the top of Group C by virtue of their two opening wins.

- Hasan Saiyid

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