Cesare Prandelli will be another coach who has other things on his mind in the build-up to the Confederations Cup, with World Cup qualification not sealed yet.
Italy’s success at the European Championship last year, where they were surprise finalists alongside Spain, was in no small part thanks to the work of Antonio Conte at Juventus. A number of their side hail from the back-to-back champions, including almost the entire defence, arguably the strongest in international football. Going forward they rely more on AC Milan and their strike pairing of Mario Balotelli and the half-Egyptian Stephan El Shaarawy ahead of club mate Riccardo Montolivo.
Coach: Cesare Prandelli
Italy have re-emerged under Prandelli as a more attacking and incisive unit going forward with tactical flexibility. Able to switch between a three and four man defence, Prandelli also likes to have his midfielders rotating positions around the playmaker Andrea Pirlo. With three men breaking from midfield in addition to the rampaging runs from deep of their full backs, Italy get plenty of men forward on the attack and playing two centre forwards means they carry a serious goal threat.
Key Player: Andrea Pirlo
Pirlo remains the central figure in this Italy side despite his advancing years. His ability to dictate play is key and he is a crucial tactical presence given the increasing importance of the counter attack in modern day football. Pirlo’s passing from deep is almost unrivalled, but getting him the time and space to dictate proceedings is the problem Juventus found in the Champions League this season. But for Italy and in international football there is more time and space, which means Pirlo can thrive. His passing skills make him useful not just for the quick counter attack but also the possession game and forcing the opposition back into their own half, which is why he remains so pivotal to Prandelli.
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View from Italy
This tournament is highly significant for the football mad Italians. Last year’s European Championship was an exciting moment, a rapid revival from the lows of the 2010 World Cup and done playing unusually attacking football for an Italian side. Italians will be looking to this tournament to see whether that was a fluke or a genuine sign of an improving side capable of challenging in Brazil next year.
Verdict
Italy face a tough task to get out of a group involving Brazil, Mexico and Japan. The hosts should make it through the first phase and so Prandelli’s side could end up in a fight for second. The Italian side will be exhausted from the European season and so a comparatively fresh Mexico and Japan could make life difficult for the Azzurri. Japan will give them no time to find their passing rhythm whilst Mexico can match them in possession. And so the Italians could be on the end of a shock first round exit and heading for an early summer, pondering how to make a better go of it when they are back in Brazil.
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