FWC-Italy
Italy:-
“Gli Azzurri” enter this WC campaign in a much better shape and form than 4 years ago; however, a lot has to be sorted out before they can even dream of WC glory!
Starting from the back, coach Prandelli and his staff have a huge dilemma in defense. Their lack of a true LB who has the proper attacking qualities that compliment coach Prandelli’s football philosophy might lead to a 3-man-defense line-up very similar (in tactics and even actual player selections) to that of Juventus.
It is within the midfield where Italy will look to launch their attacks. It is no secret just how important Andrea Pirlo is to Juventus’ offensive tactics and it is almost the same story when it comes to Italy’s attacking strategy. Players around Pirlo look to retain possession and then pass it back to the legendary 2006 WC winner, who will then disperse it either out wide or further forward with such perfection and precision, that it might sometimes seem as if he is playing all by himself on a practice field.
Italy’s offensive strategy is based on a number of different approaches. For starters, their wide players (should they deploy them) might try and run the channels to eventually feed their target man at every chance they get. That is NOT to say that the midfielders will be constantly passing the ball to the wingers/SMs, who will in turn run down the flank and just cross the ball. That’s not how coach Prandelli implements attacking football!
His approach is much more pragmatic and, to an extent, rather aesthetically attractive when compared to Italy’s previous teams and their respective approaches to attacking strategies. Coach Prandelli sets up his Italy side in such a way that they play with the ball at their feet more than is expected of them.
Now, that COULD mean that the midfield players will hold up play for their wide men and/or striker(s) and then play them in via accurate through balls. It could, however, also mean that the midfielders will simply go forward themselves and either try to penetrate opposition defenders vertically or just unleash a deadly shot from distance.
A huge dependence is also placed on set-pieces and dead-ball situations. Italy have great physical players who can put the ball in the back of the next via aerial balls and they have even better players who can deliver said aerial play.
They are dangerous on the counter-attack as well and are not shy of exerting extreme pressure, when needed, to force the opposition back into their own half and attempt to smother them with swathes of attacking play.
Coach Prandelli has a tendency to constantly tinker with his formations and tactics in CONSIDERABLE amounts DURING the actual tournaments in which Italy play. It is a sign of uncertainty and if Italy are to achieve WC glory this year, then stability will be the first and foremost requirement.
Main men: Andrea Pirlo and Mario Balotelli: Pirlo’s unbelievable vision, huge experience, extreme tactical awareness and even free-kick abilities are the foundations upon which Italy’s team is built. Balotelli’s physical presence, brilliant technique and great positional play will be coach Prandelli’s main asset in attack. If both Pirlo and Balotelli combine together perfectly, along with Italy’s dynamic attacking approach, Gli Azzurri might just live-up to their reputation as 4 times WC champions.
Odds (average from top 24 betting firms): 24.25
“Gli Azzurri” enter this WC campaign in a much better shape and form than 4 years ago; however, a lot has to be sorted out before they can even dream of WC glory!
Starting from the back, coach Prandelli and his staff have a huge dilemma in defense. Their lack of a true LB who has the proper attacking qualities that compliment coach Prandelli’s football philosophy might lead to a 3-man-defense line-up very similar (in tactics and even actual player selections) to that of Juventus.
It is within the midfield where Italy will look to launch their attacks. It is no secret just how important Andrea Pirlo is to Juventus’ offensive tactics and it is almost the same story when it comes to Italy’s attacking strategy. Players around Pirlo look to retain possession and then pass it back to the legendary 2006 WC winner, who will then disperse it either out wide or further forward with such perfection and precision, that it might sometimes seem as if he is playing all by himself on a practice field.
Italy’s offensive strategy is based on a number of different approaches. For starters, their wide players (should they deploy them) might try and run the channels to eventually feed their target man at every chance they get. That is NOT to say that the midfielders will be constantly passing the ball to the wingers/SMs, who will in turn run down the flank and just cross the ball. That’s not how coach Prandelli implements attacking football!
His approach is much more pragmatic and, to an extent, rather aesthetically attractive when compared to Italy’s previous teams and their respective approaches to attacking strategies. Coach Prandelli sets up his Italy side in such a way that they play with the ball at their feet more than is expected of them.
Now, that COULD mean that the midfield players will hold up play for their wide men and/or striker(s) and then play them in via accurate through balls. It could, however, also mean that the midfielders will simply go forward themselves and either try to penetrate opposition defenders vertically or just unleash a deadly shot from distance.
A huge dependence is also placed on set-pieces and dead-ball situations. Italy have great physical players who can put the ball in the back of the next via aerial balls and they have even better players who can deliver said aerial play.
They are dangerous on the counter-attack as well and are not shy of exerting extreme pressure, when needed, to force the opposition back into their own half and attempt to smother them with swathes of attacking play.
Coach Prandelli has a tendency to constantly tinker with his formations and tactics in CONSIDERABLE amounts DURING the actual tournaments in which Italy play. It is a sign of uncertainty and if Italy are to achieve WC glory this year, then stability will be the first and foremost requirement.
Main men: Andrea Pirlo and Mario Balotelli: Pirlo’s unbelievable vision, huge experience, extreme tactical awareness and even free-kick abilities are the foundations upon which Italy’s team is built. Balotelli’s physical presence, brilliant technique and great positional play will be coach Prandelli’s main asset in attack. If both Pirlo and Balotelli combine together perfectly, along with Italy’s dynamic attacking approach, Gli Azzurri might just live-up to their reputation as 4 times WC champions.
Odds (average from top 24 betting firms): 24.25
Ahmad Al-Omar - 30. May, 07:09
