Euro 2012 Group C: Italy
GROUP C
[Team Jersey Images © Soccerphile]
Italy
Road to Poland & Ukraine
Italy endured a forgettable defence of their World Cup title in South Africa in 2010, finishing bottom of a group that also included Paraguay, Slovakia and New Zealand. However, the Italians - under coach Cesare Prandelli - couldn't have made lighter work of qualifying for this year's European Championships.
Prandelli's side cantered into the finals in Ukraine and Poland with an unbeaten record and with two games to spare, topping Group C with eight wins and two draws. What's more, they finished a mammoth 10 points ahead of second placed Estonia having conceded just twice throughout the entire campaign.
Fixtures
 |
 |
Italy Kit 1
|
Italy Kit 2
|
Italy v Spain 10 June; Gdansk
Italy v Croatia 14 June; Poznan
Italy v Ireland; 18 June; Poznan
Analysis
Cesare Prandelli's biggest headache in the build-up to this summer's tournament is the possible participation of preferred frontline pairing Giuseppe Rossi and Antonio Cassano. The unlikely double act struck up a useful understanding during Italy's qualifying campaign, although neither is currently playing and their involvement in Ukraine and Poland remains uncertain.
US-born Rossi has been sidelined since late October following surgery to repair his right knee, while Cassano, who scored six times in qualifying and was an ever-present in the side, underwent heart surgery in November and was told he would miss the rest of the 2011-12 season.
The Milanese forward, 29, has enjoyed a chequered career since rising to international prominence in Giovanni Trapattoni's team at Euro 2004. However, the Azzurri would provide a far more potent goal threat if he - and another occasionally troubled star Mario Balotelli - could find their finest form. Balotelli only played 19 minutes in qualifying.
Key player: Andrea Pirlo
He might now be pulling the strings for Juventus rather than for AC Milan after his shock departure from the San Siro last summer, but Andrea Pirlo's position at the base of Italy's midfield is as secure as ever. The 34-year-old has been a revelation for Juve under Antonio Conte as the Turin side has kept pace with Milan at the top of Serie A. And the gentle prompting of Pirlo remains central to Prandelli's national team game plan.
One to watch: Mario Balotelli
Although public opinion about Mario Balotelli remains deeply divided, the Italian coach has made his views on Manchester City's headline striker firmly known. While Balotelli never played for Italy under Marcello Lippi, Cesare Prandelli is an avid admirer, describing Balotelli's "extraordinary qualities" as "beyond dispute". The forward who is just about as well known in England for a series of off-field misdemeanours and run-ins with the law as he is for his sumptuous forward play will be available for February's friendly against the USA after completing a domestic ban. And that might just signal the start of his serious audition for a place in Prandelli's first choice side for Ukraine and Poland.
Coach: Cesare Prandelli
The former Fiorentina boss has brought stability and fresh impetus since his summer 2010 appointment and has earned plaudits for his inspired decision to recall the enigmatic Antonio Cassano from Azzurri exile. Importantly, Cesare Prandelli has undertaken the necessary squad rejuvenation after the humiliation of the 2010 World Cup - without a mass overhaul of the 2006 World Cup champions - and as such the Blues' defence remains virtually impregnable and its midfield full of individual talents.
Record
1964, 1972, 1976, 1984, 1992 Did not qualify; 1968 Champions; 1980, 1988, Semi-finals; 1996, 2004 Group stage; 2000 Runners-up; 2008 Quarter-finals
FIFA Ranking
How they qualified for Euro 2012
Italy won Group C without losing a match.
On the sidelines
Fabio Cannavaro is Italy's most capped player with 136.
Soccerphile says
After being paired in Group C with champions Spain, the Azzurri need to quickly find a forward combination that is fit and firing when the tournament starts in June.
The Squad
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris St Germain)
Defenders: Ignazio Abate (AC Milan), Frederico Balzaretti (Palermo), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Angelo Ogbonna (Torino)
Midfielders: Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Alessandro Diamanti (Bologna), Emanuele Giaccherini (Juventus), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Thiago Motta (Paris St Germain), Antonio Nocerino (AC Milan), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus)
Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Manchester City), Fabio Borini (Roma), Antonio Cassano (Milan), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Sebastiano Giovinco (Parma)