ITALY vs. URUGUAY
Date: June 24, 2014
Time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
Venue: Estadio das Dunas, Natal
Overall Head-to-Head Record (W-L-T): 3-2-4 Uruguay
Last Match: 2013 Confederations Cup (Third Place). Italy tied Uruguay 2-2.
Italy won 3-2 in penalty kicks.
Italy won 3-2 in penalty kicks.
Line: Italy +165
Group D Preview here.
Starting Lineups posted separately once they're announced.
Team Profiles
World Ranking: Italy (9th), Uruguay (7th)
Managers: Cesare Prandelli (ITA), Oscar Tabarez (URU)
Captains: Gianluigi Buffon (ITA), Diego Lugano (URU)
World Cup Appearances: 18 (ITA), 12 (URU)
Best Finish: Italy (4x Champions, Last in 2006), Uruguay (2x Champions, Last in 1950)
Qualifying Records: Italy (6-0-4, GF: 19, GA: 9), Uruguay (8-5-5, GF: 30, GA: 25)
Previous Game Results
Italy
Uruguay
June 14th - Costa Rica def. Uruguay 3-1
June 20th - Uruguay def. England 2-1
Rosters
Injuries/Discipline
Uruguay: Martin Caceres (Yellow Card), Walter Gargano (Yellow Card), Diego Godin (Yellow Card), Diego Lugano (Yellow Card, Questionable - Knee), Alvaro Pereira (Questionable - Head)
Overview
It's an early knockout game for the two former champions as both try to secure at least second place in Group D. Both upset by Costa Rica earlier in group play, only one of these teams will advance to play further with Italy holding the slightest of tiebreakers.
Uruguay are the hot team coming in to the game, having rebounded from their early loss with a win over England which saw star forward Luis Suarez notch 2 goals coming back from injury. Worse for Italy, Suarez looked healthy that game and has said since that he is back to full strength.
While Uruguay look set up front, Italy can't exactly say the same. Their top striker Mario Balotelli hasn't looked on form at all this tournament and their have been calls from Italian fans to sit down the enigmatic forward in favour of surprise inclusion Ciro Immobile. While tough to see Cesare Prandelli sitting Balotelli down, Prandelli has acknowledged in interviews that changes need to be made to the squad that was shut out by Costa Rica last week.
Italy should stick with their 4-3-2-1 formation unless Prandelli really wants to experiment. They may have to do so without Daniele De Rossi in the midfield who is nursing an injury. First-choice left back Mattia De Sciglio should be available for selection for the first time this tournament though.
Uruguay will likely go with the same front six that played against England. They still have concerns defensively with captain Diego Lugano still injured. They will have Maxi Pereira back from suspension though in this game.
Personnel
In the Italian Third: Italy are likely to throw out their 3rd different back line in as many games with De Sciglio back from injury. They may be able to get players in the correct positions now but the lack of consistency in both personnel and performance to-date is concerning for Italy fans. More concerning is Luis Suarez saying he is and looking to be 100 percent. A healthy Suarez will carve up any team, and Italy should be without De Rossi to boot. Advantage: Uruguay.
In the Midfield: Italy the big passing and possession team in this one although Uruguay did look good at controlling tempo and play against England. Italy's a definite step up though in terms of calibre of play in this section of the pitch. Won't overwhelm teams like they can but Italy should have control in this game. Advantage: Italy.
In the Uruguayan Third: The biggest unknown and likely what will determine if Italy is successful or not. Uruguay are not known for their defence, and while they shut down England effectively, they aren't a team known to get consistent performances from game to game. Italy have their own concerns too though. They've been static offensively much of the time and Balotelli hasn't gotten going at all as the lone striker. Will come down to which team steps up more. Until then neither team with an edge. Advantage: Even.
Goalkeeping: Same story as the Uruguay defence, Muslera is capable of brilliant saves or could be standing still watching balls rain past. Buffon the safe bet based on experience and calibre of play over the years. Advantage: Italy.
Uruguay are the hot team coming in to the game, having rebounded from their early loss with a win over England which saw star forward Luis Suarez notch 2 goals coming back from injury. Worse for Italy, Suarez looked healthy that game and has said since that he is back to full strength.
While Uruguay look set up front, Italy can't exactly say the same. Their top striker Mario Balotelli hasn't looked on form at all this tournament and their have been calls from Italian fans to sit down the enigmatic forward in favour of surprise inclusion Ciro Immobile. While tough to see Cesare Prandelli sitting Balotelli down, Prandelli has acknowledged in interviews that changes need to be made to the squad that was shut out by Costa Rica last week.
Italy should stick with their 4-3-2-1 formation unless Prandelli really wants to experiment. They may have to do so without Daniele De Rossi in the midfield who is nursing an injury. First-choice left back Mattia De Sciglio should be available for selection for the first time this tournament though.
Uruguay will likely go with the same front six that played against England. They still have concerns defensively with captain Diego Lugano still injured. They will have Maxi Pereira back from suspension though in this game.
Personnel
In the Italian Third: Italy are likely to throw out their 3rd different back line in as many games with De Sciglio back from injury. They may be able to get players in the correct positions now but the lack of consistency in both personnel and performance to-date is concerning for Italy fans. More concerning is Luis Suarez saying he is and looking to be 100 percent. A healthy Suarez will carve up any team, and Italy should be without De Rossi to boot. Advantage: Uruguay.
In the Midfield: Italy the big passing and possession team in this one although Uruguay did look good at controlling tempo and play against England. Italy's a definite step up though in terms of calibre of play in this section of the pitch. Won't overwhelm teams like they can but Italy should have control in this game. Advantage: Italy.
In the Uruguayan Third: The biggest unknown and likely what will determine if Italy is successful or not. Uruguay are not known for their defence, and while they shut down England effectively, they aren't a team known to get consistent performances from game to game. Italy have their own concerns too though. They've been static offensively much of the time and Balotelli hasn't gotten going at all as the lone striker. Will come down to which team steps up more. Until then neither team with an edge. Advantage: Even.
Goalkeeping: Same story as the Uruguay defence, Muslera is capable of brilliant saves or could be standing still watching balls rain past. Buffon the safe bet based on experience and calibre of play over the years. Advantage: Italy.
Italy will win if:
Make penetrating runs at the Uruguay back line and if nothing else, keep Suarez out of scoring positions. One of the reasons Uruguay looked so good defensively against England was the English were comfortable passing the ball around the exterior of their defensive shell. Easy to defend when teams aren't forcing you out of position. Italy have to get inside the lines and Uruguay penalty area to break down their shape in order to be successful. Much easier said then done but defensively, Suarez has to be locked down. However they choose to do it, he cannot be given an inch to operate. Ask England what happens when he is.
Uruguay will win if:
Repeat the gameplan from last game. Have to play a defensive style of soccer and count on Suarez and Cavani to generate offensive chances. Italy's attackers haven't looked sharp this tournament but they're deadly when allowed to do what they want to do. Uruguay don't have the luxury of a tie to advance but have to play defence first. Goals should come with Suarez healthy, can't force them and abandon your end in the pursuit of them.
Should be a very close game, should be a very good game. I'm not convinced Uruguay can hold their back line together against Italy for 90 minutes but I also don't think Italy have a lot of teeth up front. Suarez again works his magic and gets Uruguay through to the Round of 16.
Uruguay 2-1 Italy
No comments:
Post a Comment