The stifling humidity of the Amazonian jungle awaits European giants England and Italy on Saturday night, with the teams set to do battle for the first time since a Euro 2012 quarter final that the Azzurri dominated from start to finish. Somewhat fatalistically, England yet again eventually succumbed to defeat on penalties, but had been lucky to take the game to the lottery of spot-kicks at all. This time around, Italy will field a similar team, and Roy Hodgson thus has the benefit of being able to learn from previous mistakes.
The main question for England is probably going to be how to stop the imperious Andrea Pirlo, sitting deep at the base of midfield, dictating the pace of the game with metronomic consistency. In the clash in Kiev, Pirlo had an incredible 155 touches (though that was over 120 minutes), making 131 passes and created six chances on his way to WhoScored rating of 8.87 and the man of the match award. Wayne Rooney proved incapable of subduing the regista in that game, so his deployment out wide in a recent friendly was seen as an attempt by Hodgson to look for a way to disarm Pirlo by alternative means.
Danny Welbeck may play centrally, if passed fit, tasked with closing Pirlo down quickly and stopping him from picking passes at will. Welbeck did this job effectively for Manchester United on Real Madrid’s Xabi Alonso in the Champions League not so long ago, and his work rate and the application he shows means he can be relied upon, at least more so than Rooney. His statistically calculated strength from WhoScored of ‘defensive contribution’ highlights just how much work he does off the ball, even if in attack he sometimes leaves questions to be asked.sf
If Rooney does indeed retain his central berth, he will need to do plenty of defensive work; the sort he became renowned for earlier in his career but has seemed to be lacking in more recent times. More important than a mere necessity for Rooney to charge around and close down Pirlo as quickly as possible, will be the need to keep good defensive shape in midfield. He, Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson will need to be incredibly clever and disciplined in order to make it as difficult as possible for Italy’s pass master to find a way through. The problem if of course, that even once you have dealt with Pirlo, Cesare Prandelli has plenty of other talented players who can still provide a threat.
Up front, Mario Balotelli carries much of Italy’s goalscoring ammunition, but while their squad is sometimes criticised for a lack of back up firepower, Prandelli has others to call upon. Ciro Immobile (14) ranked second only to Lionel Messi (20) for goals scored in Europe’s top 5 leagues this calendar year, so he comes into the competition in form, and there have been calls from Italian fans for him to be given a starting spot against England.
Alessio Cerci, more likely to partner Balotelli in Manaus, was the top creator in Serie A last season with 13 assists, while he was also the only player to reach double figures for both goals and assists in the Italian top flight. Pacy winger Lorenzo Insigne could give England’s defence something else to think about, while Antonio Cassano, who created more chances (93) than any other player in Serie A last term, can also be called upon.
If there was a weakness to highlight for England to try and take advantage of, it would be the lack of a natural left-back in the Azzurri squad. Towering centre-back Giorgio Chiellini was touted as an option to play at left-back, but it now seems that right-footed Mattia De Sciglio could be moved over to that flank. The result, either way, will be a player not wholly comfortable in that position, and as legs tire in humidity set to push 90%, someone like Raheem Sterling could enjoy some luck down the right wing.
As is expected in an England clash against Italy, it will be a fiery affair with plenty of talent on display. The Italians have the psychological advantage having been victorious two years ago, but England’s young, sprightly squad could spring a surprise. The match is certainly in the balance.