Uruguay travel to Rome to face Italy in a high-profile friendly between two former world champions.
The Italian national team lock horns with South American champions Uruguay in a high-profile friendly match between two former world champions at the Stadio Olimpico of Rome on Tuesday.
Italy come into the match on top of their game, after having beaten Poland 2-0 in Wroclaw last week. The Italians finished top of EURO 2012 qualifying Group C with eight wins and two draws from ten games, and will definitely be one of the favourites to win the tournament come next year.
Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli scored his first ever goal for the Azzurri in the encounter with Poland, and will likely partner Giampaolo Pazzini in Italy's strong attack against the Uruguayans. However, Argentine-born Roma attacker Pablo Daniel Osvaldo could be another alternative. Cesare Prandelli, the coach of Italy, must be concerned with Italy's attack, with Antonio Cassano recovering from heart surgery and Giuseppe Rossi expected to be out for a lengthy period due to a serious knee injury.
Italy face stiff opposition in Copa America winners Uruguay, undoubtedly one of the world's strongest teams at present. After finishing fourth at the World Cup last year, the Uruguayans went on to win the Copa America this year, thumping Paraguay 3-0 in the final. Currently ranked fourth in the world, Uruguay lead the South American 2014 World Cup qualifying group with seven points, after claiming two wins and a draw from their first three games.
On Friday Uruguay slaughtered Chile 4-0 at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo with Liverpool striker Luis Suarez grabbing all four goals to cap off a memorable performance. But with Suarez sidelined due to a muscle strain and both Diego Forlan and Abel Hernandez out as well, Oscar Washington Tabarez will have to deal with the absence of three important strikers. Due to Suarez's absence, Edinson Cavani will be partnered by Malaga's Sebastian Fernandez in the attack.
Uruguay are very familiar with the Italian game, as while Tabarez had a brief stint in Italy with both Cagliari and AC Milan in the mid-nineties, several members of the Uruguay squad currently ply their trade in Serie A. Over the years a large number of Uruguayans have found wide success in the Italian top-flight, including Ruben Sosa, Daniel Fonseca, Paolo Montero, Alvaro Recoba and Marcelo Zalayeta.
Italy and Uruguay have met on seven occasions in the past, with two wins a piece and a draw. The last time they met was back in preparation for the 2002 World Cup, with both sides fighting out a 1-1 draw at the San Siro stadium in Milan.
Italy come into the match on top of their game, after having beaten Poland 2-0 in Wroclaw last week. The Italians finished top of EURO 2012 qualifying Group C with eight wins and two draws from ten games, and will definitely be one of the favourites to win the tournament come next year.
Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli scored his first ever goal for the Azzurri in the encounter with Poland, and will likely partner Giampaolo Pazzini in Italy's strong attack against the Uruguayans. However, Argentine-born Roma attacker Pablo Daniel Osvaldo could be another alternative. Cesare Prandelli, the coach of Italy, must be concerned with Italy's attack, with Antonio Cassano recovering from heart surgery and Giuseppe Rossi expected to be out for a lengthy period due to a serious knee injury.
Italy face stiff opposition in Copa America winners Uruguay, undoubtedly one of the world's strongest teams at present. After finishing fourth at the World Cup last year, the Uruguayans went on to win the Copa America this year, thumping Paraguay 3-0 in the final. Currently ranked fourth in the world, Uruguay lead the South American 2014 World Cup qualifying group with seven points, after claiming two wins and a draw from their first three games.
On Friday Uruguay slaughtered Chile 4-0 at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo with Liverpool striker Luis Suarez grabbing all four goals to cap off a memorable performance. But with Suarez sidelined due to a muscle strain and both Diego Forlan and Abel Hernandez out as well, Oscar Washington Tabarez will have to deal with the absence of three important strikers. Due to Suarez's absence, Edinson Cavani will be partnered by Malaga's Sebastian Fernandez in the attack.
Uruguay are very familiar with the Italian game, as while Tabarez had a brief stint in Italy with both Cagliari and AC Milan in the mid-nineties, several members of the Uruguay squad currently ply their trade in Serie A. Over the years a large number of Uruguayans have found wide success in the Italian top-flight, including Ruben Sosa, Daniel Fonseca, Paolo Montero, Alvaro Recoba and Marcelo Zalayeta.
Italy and Uruguay have met on seven occasions in the past, with two wins a piece and a draw. The last time they met was back in preparation for the 2002 World Cup, with both sides fighting out a 1-1 draw at the San Siro stadium in Milan.
