World Cup 2014 – Team Analysis – Italy

The third team in our assessment of Group D is Italy. Having analysed Costa Rica and England, we now take a look at the prospects of Cesare Prandelli’s side – the Azzurri open their campaign against England on Saturday June 14 at 11pm before taking on underdogs Costa Rica six days later at 5pm and finish the group stages with a potentially crucial clash against Uruguay on Tuesday June 24 at 5pm:

Road to Qualification

The Italians clinched their progress after topping a six-team group that also included Denmark, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Armenia and Malta. Prandelli’s troops won six of their 10 matches and scored 19 goals (netting two or more on eight occasions), though they seemed to struggle defensively – conceding nine goals, they managed just four clean sheets over the course of their campaign.

Most Starts Andrea Pirlo (9), Gianluigi Buffon, Leonardo Bonucci (8), Claudio Marchisio, Riccardo Montolivo (7), Daniel De Rossi, Pablo Osvaldo, Andrea Barzagli (6)

Most Goals Mario Balotelli (5), Pablo Osvaldo (4), Andrea Pirlo, Daniel De Rossi (2)

Most Assists Andrea Pirlo (4), Antonio Candreva, Claudio Marchisio (2)

The Key Targets

Since clinching qualification, Italy have failed to win any of their three friendlies, drawing with Germany and Nigeria before tasting defeat at the hands of Spain. Prandelli is set to announce his final 23-man squad after a weekend friendly with Republic of Ireland, with a number of Juventus- title-winning side key to his plans.

At the back, Gianluigi Buffon – available for 6.2 in FantasyiTeam – is nailed-on between the posts, whilst Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci are the likely central defensive pairing, allowing Milan pairing Ignazio Abate and Mattia De Sciglio the full-back berths in a four-man backline. Coming in at in 5.8 and 5.7 respectively in FantasyiTeam, the latter two are slightly cheaper than the centre-halves; Chiellini mirrors Buffon’s 6.2 price tag, whilst Bonucci sets you back 5.9.

Prandelli tends to favour a 4-3-1-2 formation but has also admitted he is considering a 4-3-3 or 3-5-2 set-up as an alternative – the latter system culd allow another Juventus defender, Andrea Barzagli, to slot in alongside Chiellini and Bonucci, with Abate and De Sciglio utilised as wing-backs in a five-man midfield.

Regardless of formation Andrea Pirlo remains vital to Italy’s approach. The veteran’s set-piece delivery and distribution from deep will surely earn him plenty of investment, as evidenced by his four assists during the qualifiers – he may be 35 years old but, at 6.6 in FantasyiTeam, Pirlo’s ability to keep cool under pressure and hold onto the ball could be vital in the energy-sapping conditions. Daniel De Rossi’s (6.2 in FantasyiTeam) versatility could be key to Prandelli’s tactics, too. The Roma midfielder will provide the energy in the centre of the park but also offers an option at centre-half if the Italy boss changes his approach mid-match and turns to a back-three.

Elsewhere in the centre of the park, Claudio Marchisio and Riccardo Montolivo are likely starters, with PSG pair Thiago Motta and Marco Verratti consigned to bench-warming duties. In a 4-3-1-2, Montolivo should tuck in behind a front two and could be one to consider for those eyeing up alternatives to Pirlo – he comes in at 5.8 in FantasyiTeam compared to Marchisio’s 5.9.

Up top, Mario Balotelli is the main man. Despite featuring just five times in qualification, the AC Milan start still managed to net five times and is the one forward we can rely on to make Prandelli’s teamsheet – he also remains ahead of Pirlo in the spot-kicks pecking order, despite losing his 100% penalty conversion record last season. Priced at 9.0 in FantasyiTeam, Balotelli isn’t cheap but looks the man most likely to notch doe Prandelli’s outfit.

The Long Shots

Coming in at 5.3 in FantasyiTeam,Lazio’s Antonio Candreva is far from certain to start but he arrives in arguably the best form of any Italian midfielder. Fielded on the right of a front three for his club, he produced 12 goals and six assists in the 2013/14 Serie A campaign and is perhaps best-suited to a 4-3-3 system, though could also offer an option in “the hole” at Montolivo’s expense.

If he can prove his fitness, Prandelli will be desperate to include Guiseppe Rossi in the squad. Sidelined by a knee injury for four months, he’s back in training with the national squad and would be an ideal partner for Balotelli up top should the Azzurri continue with a two-man frontline, though a potential absence would boost Antonio Cassano’s chances of making the starting XI. Those two will set you back 8.8 and 8.4 respectively in FantasyiTeam.

Further Analysis

Group A – Brazil,Cameroon, Croatia, Mexico

Group B – Australia, Chile, Holland, Spain

Group C – Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan

Group D – Costa Rica, England

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Scouting Italy by El Muneco