World Cup Team in Focus: Italy

The 2006 World Champions went into the 2010 and finished last in a group featuring Paraguay, Slovakia and New Zealand. A whole host of changes followed the disappointing showing in South Africa and they put together a great string of performances, beating England and pre-tournament favorites Germany en route to the final.
With a similar setup in place, headed by coach Cesare Prandelli, Italy went unbeaten in their qualification round. Most of the senior players that dominated the playing squad of 2010 are no longer a part of the set up. The younger players like Mattia Perin, De Sciglio, Verratti, Destro and Insigne have been blooded in and guided by the likes of Gianaluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo, Andrea Barzagli, Thiago Motta et al. This team has a wonderful balance of the experience and youthful exuberance to be considered genuine contenders.
With Juventus’ having a record year, a spine of Juventus players featuring Buffon, Barzagli, Chiellini, Bonucci, Marchisio and Pirlo will play a crucial role in their success. Successful domestic seasons for forwards Alessio Cerci and Ciro Immobile (Torino), Destro (Roma), Insigne(Napoli), Rossi(Fiorentina) and Cassano(Parma) would add to the hopes. A blatant lack of wide players could restrict them tactically and lay extra pressure on their midfield three including the essential Andrea Pirlo. All these personnel advantages will need to be exploited thoroughly if they are to get through the tough group. Balotelli is their wild card player and a lot will depend on him. But Italy have more than capable and more in-form replacements for him.
This year’s World Cup has 3 ‘Groups of Death’ – Group B(featuring Spain, Netherlands, Chile and Australia), Group G(Germany, Portugal, Ghana and USA) and Group D(featuring Italy, England, Uruguay and Costa Rica). Italy has the misfortune of being in one of them. England and Uruguay will be difficult opponents to get past. In a traditional ‘Group of Death’, the two big teams that face off in the first round of games tend to be at a disadvantage. In this group, Italy face off with England in the first round and that gives Uruguay the chance to get ahead early. Despite the tough group, Italy are favorites to qualify for the Round of 16 as England and Uruguay are expected to fight it out for the second spot. The ‘Round of 16’ for this group’s qualifiers are likely to have an easier than most fixture with Group C featuring no traditional football superpower.
Italy go to Brazil, off the back of good showings in Euro 2012, Confederations Cup 2013 and an unbeaten qualification campaign. Their experience of having played in Brazil during the Confederations Cup last year will prove invaluable for them against the likes of England and potential Round of 16 competitors Ivory Coast and Japan. With the evergreen Andrea Pirlo at the heart of their midfield and a capable backup in Veratti, expect Italy to give Spain a run for their money in the passing department. A quarter-final finish for them is almost a certainty. They might not have it in them to get beyond that this year.