In the marquee match of international friendly games this week, Germany host Italy in Dortmund.
There were several mistakes that could comprise a lowlight reel of Italy’s World Cup campaign in South Africa, but none more deserving than Fabio Cannavaro’s slip that led to Shane Smeltz’s opening goal for New Zealand. Italy still had ample time after that to turn their World Cup around—the coup de grace to their aspirations came against Slovakia a few days later—but Cannavaro’s mistake staged the ultimate misgiving about Marcello Lippi’s selection: perhaps he had placed too much faith in the old guard that had led Italy to World Cup triumph four years earlier. And the man who was arguably the most potent symbol of that glory, captain Cannavaro, the ‘Berlin Wall,’ had crumbled at a Kiwi’s peck.
In the post-Lippi era, Cesare Prandelli has done well to rejuvenate the Azzurri. He has also been professionally candid about his selections and the depleted stock from which he has had to form a team capable of restoring Italy’s reputation on the international stage.
“The championship is rich (with good players) but poor with what I'm looking for:
I still don't see young players with the potential to become stars,” Prandelli told reporters in October.
He finally admitted, with no qualifications, that Italian football had an alarming lack of talented players, which would have been an absurd proposition as recently as five years ago. Admittedly, it is hard to compare seriously Domenico Criscito with Paolo Maldini, or Giorgio Chiellini with Alessandro Nesta. Both Criscito and Chiellini are solid, dependable players, but they do not have the touch of class that their predecessors did.
Not for nothing has Brazilian born Thiago Motta been called up to represent Italy in tomorrow’s friendly against Germany in Dortmund. According to Prandelli, Motta has the dynamism that Italy need, but the selection is also a tacit admission that homegrown Italian talent is scarcer than usual.
Growing up
Prandelli has said the game against Germany will be the kind that makes a team “grow up.” Indeed, considering how many young players Prandelli has called up that may be a fitting characterization.
In contrast, Germany’s young contingent are better adjusted and have been growing up in the limelight for the past 3-4 years. Joachim Loew, unlike his counterpart, is in the enviable position of fine-tuning rather than creating his winning formula.
During the World Cup this past summer, Germany’s young team flattened England and Argentina only to be denied by a canny Spanish team. Against Italy tomorrow, they are the clear favourites.
Expected line-ups
Prandelli has already revealed his starting line-up. Gianluigi Buffon will return in goal after a long injury lay-off, while Mattia Cassani, Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Ranocchia and Giorgio Chiellini will start in defence. Riccardo Montolivo, Thiago Motta and Daniele De Rossi will take their place in midfield, while Antonio Cassano, Stefano Mauri, and Giampaolo Pazzini will be in attack.
Italy will start with a 4-3-1-2. Lazio’s Mauri will play behind Cassano and Pazzini. We may also witness Parma’s Sebastian Giovinco and Villarreal’s Giuseppe Rossi at some stage.
Germany are expected to field Per Mertesacker in defence, while Phillip Lahm will slot in his usual right-back role. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira will get the nod in midfield. Since Mario Gomez is out injured, Mirsolav Klose will be the striker.
Prediction
Germany have not beaten Italy in almost 16 years. Their loss to Italy in the 2006 World Cup semi-final in Dortmund remains one of the most bitter defeats of their footballing history. Tomorrow, they will be hoping for a happier return to Dortmund, and given that Loew has been carefully preparing this team for a few months it will be difficult for Italy to win. However, they may earn a hard-fought draw. 1-1.
In the post-Lippi era, Cesare Prandelli has done well to rejuvenate the Azzurri. He has also been professionally candid about his selections and the depleted stock from which he has had to form a team capable of restoring Italy’s reputation on the international stage.
“The championship is rich (with good players) but poor with what I'm looking for:
I still don't see young players with the potential to become stars,” Prandelli told reporters in October.
He finally admitted, with no qualifications, that Italian football had an alarming lack of talented players, which would have been an absurd proposition as recently as five years ago. Admittedly, it is hard to compare seriously Domenico Criscito with Paolo Maldini, or Giorgio Chiellini with Alessandro Nesta. Both Criscito and Chiellini are solid, dependable players, but they do not have the touch of class that their predecessors did.
Not for nothing has Brazilian born Thiago Motta been called up to represent Italy in tomorrow’s friendly against Germany in Dortmund. According to Prandelli, Motta has the dynamism that Italy need, but the selection is also a tacit admission that homegrown Italian talent is scarcer than usual.
Growing up
Prandelli has said the game against Germany will be the kind that makes a team “grow up.” Indeed, considering how many young players Prandelli has called up that may be a fitting characterization.
In contrast, Germany’s young contingent are better adjusted and have been growing up in the limelight for the past 3-4 years. Joachim Loew, unlike his counterpart, is in the enviable position of fine-tuning rather than creating his winning formula.
During the World Cup this past summer, Germany’s young team flattened England and Argentina only to be denied by a canny Spanish team. Against Italy tomorrow, they are the clear favourites.
Expected line-ups
Prandelli has already revealed his starting line-up. Gianluigi Buffon will return in goal after a long injury lay-off, while Mattia Cassani, Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Ranocchia and Giorgio Chiellini will start in defence. Riccardo Montolivo, Thiago Motta and Daniele De Rossi will take their place in midfield, while Antonio Cassano, Stefano Mauri, and Giampaolo Pazzini will be in attack.
Italy will start with a 4-3-1-2. Lazio’s Mauri will play behind Cassano and Pazzini. We may also witness Parma’s Sebastian Giovinco and Villarreal’s Giuseppe Rossi at some stage.
Germany are expected to field Per Mertesacker in defence, while Phillip Lahm will slot in his usual right-back role. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira will get the nod in midfield. Since Mario Gomez is out injured, Mirsolav Klose will be the striker.
Prediction
Germany have not beaten Italy in almost 16 years. Their loss to Italy in the 2006 World Cup semi-final in Dortmund remains one of the most bitter defeats of their footballing history. Tomorrow, they will be hoping for a happier return to Dortmund, and given that Loew has been carefully preparing this team for a few months it will be difficult for Italy to win. However, they may earn a hard-fought draw. 1-1.
