Two teams – one that was expected to
reach the summit clash and one that was mired in controversy and was least
expected to reach the final – make up for a cracking culmination to the three
week long Euro 2012 Championships. Spain
comes on the back of their Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010 triumphs and start as
big favorites. Italy have fallen off the charts since their 2006 World Cup win
and are in the process of rebuilding. The match fixing controversy back home does
not seem to have affected them and they have very well earned the right to play
the final on Sunday.
While Spain start as firm favorites for
Sunday’s big match, the Italians can upset their applecart by playing some
intelligent football and not being overawed either by the occasion or by the
opponents. In Gianluigi Buffon, they have one of the best goalkeepers not just
in Europe but the whole world. At 34, he brings a lot of experience to the
young squad. With such a safe pair of
hands, the Italian defence has a little breathing space but still will have to
be very tight against the marauding Spanish midfielders. Christian Maggio,
Giorgio Chiellini, Federico Balzaretti and Leonardo Bonucci should be the
defenders that Coach Cesar Prandelli picks for tomorrow’s game. Chiellini and
Bonucci can easily switch flanks without compromising their natural game and Maggio
and Balzaretti can well complement each other in the pivotal central defence.
The selection of midfielders can be
tricky for Prandelli. If I were the Italian coach, I would go with Daniele De
Rossi, Riccardo Montolivo, Andrea Pirlo and Alessandro Diamanti. The choice is
really between Diamanti and Antonio Nocerino but the Bologna midfielder could
get the nod because he is far more attacking than Nocerino. The Italians should
always have a surprise up their sleeve because it is so powerful a weapon to
outsmart your opponents. Emmanuele Giacherini could well be that surprise package
if he comes on sometime during the second half.
The Italians are known to adopt the catenaccio
style but with some superb forwards in their line up, they can really afford to
play two of them tomorrow – the unlikely duo of Mario Balotelli and Antonio Di
Natale. With their differences in style
of play, they could be more than a handful as a pair. For that, they need to put way their apparent
dislike for each other in the locker rooms. Fabio Borini and Sebastian Giovinco
are unlikely to get chances in the pressure game.
The 4-4-2 formation is the most likely
to get the Italians a result in their favor. Bonucci can feed passes on to the
dangerous Pirlo or the hardworking Montolivo and then Balotelli and Natale will
have to ensure that the chances they get are converted. Chiellini could have
one-on-one efforts with De Rossi that can be damaging to the Spanish midfield
and defence opening up plenty of opportunities for Balotelli and Di Natale to
exploit. Italy will have to look to attack and score the early goal. The catenaccio
could be reserved for the final ten minutes of play.
Spain will be well aware of the dangers
that the talented Italian players pose. They have the advantage of a well set
team and a group of players that understand each other really well. Iker Casillas
will no doubt be guarding the Spanish bastion with his defenders likely to be Gerard
Pique, Sergio Ramos, Alvaro Arbeloa and the impressive Jordi Alba.
Unfortunately for Spain, these defenders do not have the capability to switch flanks
like their Italian counterparts and this could prove decisive.
Five midfielders and one forward should
be Coach Vicente Del Bosque’s plan for retaining the title. Andres Iniesta,
Xavi Hernandez, Cesc Fabregas and Xabi Alonso pick themselves. The competition
for the fifth midfielder’s slot could be between Jesus Navas and David Silva. Frankly,
there is nothing to choose between them and both of them deserve a place in the
playing eleven. But, probably only one of them will play, leaving room for Del
Bosque to pick Fernando Torres. They will really need this because the struggles
in regulation time to score a goal against Portugal cannot be repeated in the
big match. The Italian defence is far better than Portugal’s. With Torres’
uncanny finishing, Spain would definitely be the better side. Torres is angry
at having been sidelined and there really is nothing like a wounded lion.
Spain’s strategy would be to negate the
Italian defence with through passes to Torres or Fabregas who can play a bit
more forward than he usually does. Iniesta’s playmaking skills will be very
important to counter the one-on-one dance that the pair of Chiellini – De Rossi
is capable of offering. Gerard Pique will have the unenviable task of stopping
the tall Balotelli. Jordi Alba’s quick runs through the left can be effective
for Fabregas and Torres to capitalize on.
Italy will certainly need to have the
surprise element at some point of time in the match to take the initiative
while Spain will look to control the outcome by waiting for their opponents to
make mistakes. While a mouth-watering penalty shootout with two of the best
goalkeepers in the world is certainly something to watch out for, it would pain
me to see the winners being decided on the shootout. Nevertheless, a win would
be fitting for both teams – for Spain, to prove that their past record of
perennial underachievers is unquestionably put to rest and for Italy, to go
home with their heads held high in spite of all the negative things happening
to their football association as well as players. May the better team win!
