The Azzurri performed poorly throughout the World Cup and waited till the 80th minute of the match against Slovakia to start playing when it was too late to make a reaction to compensate for the failures in the previous 260 minutes of football. What is most troubling is the fact the Italian reaction was not due to team effort but rather down to a spark offered by Fabio Quagliarella who was behind one goal and scored another.

Italy’s squad lacked the confidence and played some uncharacteristic football dominated by loose marking, lack of communication amongst defenders and poor defending from set-pieces. The Italian team conceded 5 goals from a remarkable 6 shots on target which means almost every shot by opponents turned into a goal and that the Italian goalkeepers saved to make a single save. The Azzurri suffered from the absence of the injured Gianluigi Buffon who managed to play the opening 45 minutes before Federico Marchetti assumed the role of goalkeeper without making any outstanding saves.

Italy lacked creativity and invented little in terms of scoring chances inside the box before the second-half against Slovakia when Quagliarella was brought on to save Italy’s faltering World Cup campaign. The absence of Andrea Pirlo, despite his decline in form the last couple of years, was a massive blow for the team as he was limited to less than 45 minutes of playing time due to injury. When he entered the game, he was able to provide the Azzurri with more structured attacks despite his obvious lack of fitness. Italy’s attack which lacked creativity and produced nothing other than the penalty-kick converted by Vincenzo Iaquinta was pathetic in all three matches prior to the insertion of Quagliarella by coach Marcello Lippi.

Below is an assessment of the Azzurri players following all three matches in the group stage:

Gianluigi Buffon: N/A because he played in 45 minutes and had one shot which was very difficult to save against Paraguay. It was a defensive mistake by both Daniele De Rossi and Fabio Cannavaro.

Federico Marchetti: 5 out of 10. Marchetti did not commit any blunders but he did not make any saves either. From 5 shots which were on target, he failed to save 4 which were converted to goals. The third goal scored by Slovakia could have been avoided had he either rushed quicker to get the ball or stood his ground to attempt a save. He was left in no man’s land but the main fault lies with the defenders who left him exposed.

Fabio Cannavaro: 3.5 out of 10. This might be seen as harsh by some or as generous by others depending on how one views the goals conceded by Italy. The Germany 2006 version of Cannavaro had better sense of positioning and greater leaping power as well as better timing and most likely would have prevented both the Paraguay and New Zealand goals which came via set-pieces. The Kiwis scored after the ball deflected off Cannavaro’s knee. The former Azzurri captain was in no man’s land when Slovakia scored the second and third goals. His sense of marking deserted him and his leadership was quite poor considering he is the squad’s captain, most experienced player and a former best player in the world. Frankly, he was one of the main reasons behind Italy’s failure. He left Giorgio Chiellini with so much to do in terms of covering and tracking back.

Giorgio Chiellini: 5.5 out of 10. Chiellini had to cover for the deficiencies of the other defenders, mainly Cannavaro, and he covered time and again when Cannavaro was short or lost against Slovakia. He probably got used to having to carry the defensive line after Cannavaro’s poor showing with Juventus during the Serie A season when Chiellini had often had to save the Bianconeri but it does get tough after a while as witnessed by Juve’s miserable defensive record and the Azzurri shortcomings on the defensive end in South Africa 2010. He was perhaps a bit slow and, thus, maybe at fault for Slovakia’s second goal when he was late to cover the Slovak player Robert Vittek as he slotted the second goal for Slovakia. Other than that second goal by Vittek, Chiellini did what he could considering his partner was the aging Cannavaro.

Domenico Criscito: 5.5 out of 10. Did not commit any glaring mistakes yet he fell way short of the width, attacking impetus and overall impact offered by Fabio Grosso  in World Cup 2006. Obviously, both Grosso and Criscito had to take over after the world’s best left-back Paolo Maldini retired.

Christian Maggio: 5 out of 10. Was not at fault for any of the goals and only featured in the second-half against Slovakia. He showed the ability to go forward in spurts yet does not appear as a solid defensive option. Italy were stronger when Gianluca Zambrotta was on the right because of his experience and effort.

Gianluca Zambrotta: 6 out of 10. He actually performed much better than expected against both Paraguay and New Zealand to defy the critics who expected him to be horrible and a reason behind Italy’s failures. While Cannavaro disappointed as expected, Zambrotta stood his ground and performed consistently albeit nothing spectacular and way short of his impressive performances in Germany 2006. In the previous World Cup, Zambrotta was one of the stars and main catalysts as he threatened against Australia, Ukraine and Germany. Time for him to quit the national team without having to disgrace himself like Cannavaro who over stayed his welcome.

Gennaro Gattuso: 4 out of 10. He did not provide anything in the 45 minutes against Slovakia but the fault was not his because Lippi should not have started him after sitting the first two games and knowing Italy needed goals and not a defensive effort. Gattuso rightfully announced his international retirement before the World Cup. He deserves credit for making the decision and for being brave enough to acknowledge he is in free fall as he is only getting older. Poor performance on his behalf but it is not completely his fault because Lippi should have started someone else.

Claudio Marchisio: 4 out of 10. Marchisio did not do anything horribly but he did not contribute either. He was absent during the first two matches leading Lippi to bench him for the Slovakia match which was the right decision. The initial mistake was Lippi’s decision to play Marchisio out of position. A wasted player who perhaps could have performed better if properly used.

Riccardo Montolivo: 5 out of 10. Montolivo was better against Paraguay and the Kiwis when he attempted a number of long-distance shots which were saved by the goalkeepers on 3 occasions while one strike hit the post. At least he tried and hit the target on a number of occasions while someone like Alberto Gilardino did not have a single effort on target.

Daniele De Rossi: 5 out of 10. Italy’s greatest disappointment in the tournament. He does not perform as well for the Azzurri when compared with his passionate and gritty displays for his club Roma. He was at fault for Slovakia’s first goal. He gets a 5 for saving Italy against Paraguay and for creating the penalty against New Zealand. Overall, a tournament to forget for a player considered by many as Italy’s biggest hope.

Andrea Pirlo: 5.5 out of 10. Italy’s most creative force considering Antonio Cassano, Mario Balotelli, Francesco Totti and Alessandro Del Piero were all left home. He played a portion of the second-half against the Slovaks and he showed he can provide the Italians with improved and structured play as well as more incisive passing. Too bad he was not fully fit and his injury forced him to miss the first two games. His absence was decisive in terms of Italy’s failure to break defenders and opponents.

Simone Pepe: 5.5 out of 10. Better than the other players in midfield or on the wing. Pepe tried to put the ball in the box through crosses and passes as often as possible yet for all his efforts and determination, he offered little in terms of useful possession or chances against opponents. He wasted the chance to score against Slovakia at the death as he could have perhaps reacted differently when the ball fell close to him instead of simply executing a disappointing mishit.

Mauro Camoranesi: 4.5 out of 10. Did not feature against Slovkia in a good decision by Lippi. He did come on as a second-half substituteagainst both Paraguay and New Zealand. He did offer more than Marchisio but nothing decisive except for a long-range effort saved by the goalkeeper of the Kiwis and some crosses in those two matches. He received a yellow card and risked a red card as he seemed to be unable to control his temper.

Giampaolo Pazzini: N/A as he barely touched the ball in the second-half against New Zealand while he did not feature in the other two games. He cannot be blamed for Italy’s failures because he played little but also because he is a finisher and to play him would have been a waste of his talents. At least, Lippi was right about not playing him much.

Alberto Gilardino: 3.5 out of 10. While Cannavaro might have been at fault on the defensive end, Italy’s struggling offensive performances might be down to his presence in the starting lineup. Gilardino cannot be held responsible 100% because the style of play and the system employed by the  Azzurri left him both useless and isolated. What he must be blamed for is his lack of effort as he barely hassled defenders or stopped the buildup when the opponents had the ball in their area and were attempting to get the ball out from their defensive positions. He was definitely a great disappointment in terms of his contribution. Lippi was right not to use him against Slovakia but it was too late to remove him before the last match as he should have been benched from at the break during the Kiwis.

Antonio Di Natale: 5.5 out of 10. He did offer more than Gilardino and Vincenzo Iaquinta but that was down to his characteristics and not his efforts. He gets the mark for converting the easy follow-up against Slovakia for Italy’s first goal in that match. He at least tried to move around but still he should not be playing for the Azzurri under Prandelli. He is also over 30 so he should not have been called up as that would mean Totti and even  Del Piero deserved to be on the squad since both have offered more to the Azzurri over the years.

Vincenzo Iaquinta: 5 out of 10. He gets the 5 for his cool conversion of the penalty-kick against the Kiwis. If Gilardino took he it, he probably would have missed considering he barely touched the ball in the World Cup. Iaquinta did try much harder than Gilardino  but was played out of position against both Paraguay and then New Zealand in the first-half. Even when he was moved to a more central role he still failed to deliver highlighting his lack of talent. He did run and he did move but he is lacking in terms of talent.

Fabio Quagliarella: 8.5 out of 10. He played only in the second-half against Slovakia but was Italy’s best performer in the tournament in the short time he played. He offered the Azzurri a lot in terms of movements and creativity. In the last 15 minutes, he provided the spark which Italy lacked in South Africa 2010. He had one shot cleared on the line, had a goal disallowed for a very close offside call as replays showed the Slovak defender’s foot was covering the leaning Quagliarella when he scored, was a key contributor to the first Italian goal as his shot was parried to the open Di Natale for the simple finish and scored a stunner in injury-time. Quagliarella’s goal was a sublime showing of his skills and his ability to create out of nothing as well as his composure. Another player would have rushed the shot or opted for force and power as opposed to a smart and delicate finish from outside the penalty box.

You can reach me on Twitter  @RamiSoufi for further comments or questions

Italy managed to draw 1-1 against both Paraguay and New Zealand while failing to impress despite having seen a lot in terms of ball possession, in particular against the Kiwis when the Italians had just over 70% in terms of ball possession. Pundits and fans alike are debating what has gone wrong for the Azzurri in South Africa 2010 with some attributing it to the Italian tendency to start slow referencing Spain 1982, USA 1994 and even Germany 2006.

What some fail to acknowledge is the fact the Italian squads in previous editions of the World Cup in 1982, 1994 and 2006 were far superior to Italy’s current team in terms of the quality of defenders and talent in the attacking department. In USA 1994 the Azzurri could rely on some of the best defenders to every play the game such as Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi while four years ago Fabio Cannavaro and Gianluca Zambrotta were at their best. Zambrotta has admittedly surprised in this tournament and has been consistent and playing his best football in 3 years albeit still short of his commanding performances in 2006. The main concern here is Cannavaro’s decline with the skipper at fault on both occasions when the Azzurri conceded to Paraguay and New Zealand.

On both occasions, Cannavaro was off in his positioning and could not jump higher than the opponent or control the ball. Against the Kiwis the ball took a deflection off the captain proving he was clueless in terms of his positioning while the Paraguayan goal scorer out jumped both Cannavaro and Daniele De Rossi to score the opener against Italy. Cannavaro has become a weak link in the Azzurri’s defensive line and he is by far the slowest and least impressive of the back four considering Giorgio Chiellini is powerful and tough tackling while Zambrotta is consistent and Domenico Criscito has shown promise on the left flank.

Another main issue is the lack of talent up front with none of the strikers, including Antonio Di Natale, known for their ability to create something spectacular out of nothing. Alberto Gilardino has been a massive disappointment and has barely shot the ball on or off target with the match against the Kiwis showing how ineffective he can be if there is insufficient supply inside the box. The problem with Gilardino is the fact he does not get involved in the build-up and he does not create for himself or teammates rendering him useless in both World Cup matches. The other striker who has started Vincenzo Iaquinta has been played out of position and has struggled to shoot on target due to the lack of supply from the midfielders yet he at least puts the effort and chases the ball. This leaves Antonio Di Natale as the only striker capable of making a difference for the Azzurri yet in both matches he was inserted in the match in the second-half giving him little time to get accustomed to the opponents and to get in the flow.

Di Natale can create and can score as shown by his impressive 29-goal tally in Serie A yet he does need the support of the midfielders. The other two strikers on the bench are Giampaolo Pazzini and Fabio Quagliarella with neither considered world class. Compare those to the attackers at Italy’s disposal in 1994 and one name will suffice to show the massive gap in quality: Roberto Baggio. The former Fiorentina and Juventus forward was the hero for Italy in USA ’94 yet the Italians also had other stars on the bench or starting such as Gianfranco Zola and Giuseppe Signori. In 2006, Italy could rely on Alessandro Del Piero coming off the bench to offer a spark and Francesco Totti starting despite his questionable fitness due to surgery. None of the current forwards compare or come close to Baggio or Totti in terms of talent or the ability to change the direction of the match from a set-piece or a magical move.

This raises the question about Marcello Lippi’s decision to overlook Giuseppe Rossi who was one of the very few bright spots in an otherwise disastrous campaign in the Confederations Cup last year. Everyone knew Lippi would not consider Mario Balotelli, Antonio Cassano and Fabrizio Miccoli for various reasons while Alessandro Del Piero is perhaps too old for consideration. Under such circumstances, why did not Lippi pick Totti despite his age? Instead Lippi argued Totti could not withstand the rigors of having to play 7 matches in a single month. One can easily counter that by saying why not use Totti or even Del Piero as substitutes or perhaps for 30 minutes during each match? They surely could provide more spark than Pazzini or Di Natale who is closing on 33 years (Totti is a year older and Del Piero is 2 years older).

Besides the deficiencies on the defensive end due to Cannavaro’s alarming drop in level and the blow following Gianluigi Buffon’s injury, the lack of a creative force will come back to haunt Lippi and the Azzurri if it has not already done so since the Italians could end their campaign prematurely if the Slovaks are not beaten. Below is a list of other key factors which have hurt the Azzurri:

- Set-Pieces: The Azzurri were a force defending against set-pieces and actually used them best to their advantage. In this tournament so far, the Italians have conceded twice as a result of free-kicks and have lacked in terms of positioning (particularly Cannavaro).

- Trailing: The Azzurri have trailed against both Paraguay and New Zealand which is a major disadvantage considering the lack of goals in this tournament and more importantly the Italian strategy which relies more on taking the lead, sitting back and bouncing on the mistakes of opponents to score more goals. The Azzurri needed to score first to force opponents to come out and let go of their defensive plot. Ironically, Italy lost 4 points because of teams successfully implementing the Italian strategy.

- Injuries: The injury to Gianluigi Buffon will not be felt at this stage but it is a massive blow and against the likes of the Netherlands, Argentina or Brazil, the Juventus goalkeeper could be a difference maker. The injuries to Andrea Pirlo, Mauro Camoranesi and Claudio Marchisio have hurt the Azzurri in one way or another. Missing Pirlo has forced Lippi to keep experimenting using formations which actually do not suit the Italian players. In addition, Camoranesi has been a marginal influence off the bench while Marchisio has struggled in both matches.

- Tactics & Positioning: The system used by Lippi was a complete failure and even when he shifted to a more suitable 4-4-2 it did not work properly because Marchisio was still being used out of position while the strikers were starved from service. Marchisio cannot be used as a left-winger or a playmaker behind the striker. He was an attacking midfielder way back in his youth career but he has been a central midfielder since breaking into the Juventus starting lineup. Lippi is wasting three players by using his system or the current team selection since Marchisio, Iaquinta and Gilardino are all struggling under this formation. The key is to either move Marchisio to a more central role or simply to bench him once Pirlo returns or perhaps even starting Camoranesi at his expense while moving Simone Pepe to the left flank.

- Shots on Target: Against the Kiwis,Italy had 15 corners, shot 23 times and had possession 71% of the time yet only shot 5 times on target including a penalty and the rest were  long-distance shots. Not one shot on target by Gilardino and Iaquinta, except for his converted penalty. Montolivo had one long range effort which hit the post while two other shots on target came courtesy of long distance strikes by De Rossi and Camoranesi. Thus, there was a single effort inside the penalty box which was on target and it came from substitute Di Natale. This is quite shocking and will not help the Azzurri cause considering in 2006 both goals against the Germans were from shots from inside the box. According to ESPN’s stats New Zealand’s goalkeeper Mark Paston touched the ball more than any other player from the Kiwis who cleared the ball more than 50 times (most of any team in South Africa 2010). Clearly all stats were to Italy’s advantage yet the Azzurri failed to defeat the Kiwis in another sign of the declining game of the Italians.

- Marcello Lippi: No one can argue Lippi’s ability to guide teams to glory as evidenced  on both club level (with Juventus) and with the Azzurri, yet his decisions have been poor in terms of excluding players such as Totti and failing to convince Alessandro Nesta to return for the World Cup (Nesta performed much better than Cannavaro this year). Even more troubling is the fact Lippi does not appear to have settled on a strategy to implement which can be attributed to the lack of a creative force capable of integrating the strikers and linking the midfield with the attack.

- Friendly Matches: Italy probably played the fewest matches of any team participating in the World Cup whether in terms of the friendly games before the event or even throughout the year. Lippi needed more matches to test his system instead of implementing it in a couple of games. This had an adverse effect on the team in terms of performances and familiarity with the system. The Mexicans beat the Azzurri in a friendly prior to the event and are now doing well in the tournament having played more matches than the Italians in preparation for the World Cup.

- Teams Using Italian Strategy: While some might give Jose Mourinho a lot of credit for winning the Champions League, he really did not invent the wheel and actually relied on a trusted system which evolved from the Italian strategy: defend well, pressure the ball and have talent up front to make the difference. This is what won the Champions League for Inter with Julio Cesar, Lucio and Maicon a key component of the Nerazzurri success and even Brazil’s Carlos Dunga admitted he will be relying on the trio to guide the Selecao to success. Thus, the top teams and even the weaker ones are using an Italian strategy to achieve success. Only the Dutch, Spain and Argentina do not implement the Italian method. Brazil is one of the teams depending on the system and many of the average and weaker teams have relied on the Italian strategy to earn a draw or even snatch a surprising win.

Simply put, all is not lost for the Azzurri but Lippi must give Di Natale a chance to start while Gilardino and Marchisio ought to be benched. One change would make the transition to the new-look Italy even smoother and that would be to bench Cannavaro which is obviously not going to happen under Lippi. Regardless, The key is to defeat Slovakia and then face either the Dutch (if Paraguay finish first) or take the easier route which will still see Italy face Spain in the quarter-final (If Spain can bounce back to win Group H) and then Argentina in the semi-final. Either way, Italy must focus on defeating the Slovaks first and then turn attention to the knockout stages. On a match by match basis anything can happen as long as the Italians play as one unit, defend better against set-pieces and the strikers begin to pose a threat and score goals.

For further comments and other discussions please feel free to contact  @RamiSoufi on Twitter.

By now you have undoubtedly heard about the injury to Gigi Buffon and his questionable status for the remainder of the World Cup.  Reading between the lines of the statements coming out of the Italian camp it looks like possibly the best keeper in the world could actually miss the entire World Cup.  And in this World Cup, everyone recognizes the importance of a quality, screw-up free keeper.  The new Azzurri keeper will likely be Federico Marchetti, who has two international caps and until two seasons ago had never played for a Serie A club.  All of this plus the fact that the Italian squad seemingly relies on its ironclad defense to win matches, and it looks really bad for the Italians.

But as an Azzurri fan I can see some positives in this situation.  No Italian fan will ever seriously admit that this is an ideal or preferred situation for the team, but there are a few silver linings in this cloud.

1. Marchetti has talent and could be ready for World Cup action: Federico Marchetti has minimal name recognition, but his resume is quite impressive.  In the 2007-2008 Serie B season he was the starting keeper on an Albinoleffe club that surprisingly was almost promoted to Serie A.  He was sent on loan to Cagliari the next season and has firmly established himself as one of the best Italian keepers in Serie A.  Buffon even endorsed him as one of the country’s best.

While he did not have to work too much in the second half against Paraguay, Marchetti has the talent to compete in the World Cup.  And if he recognizes his opportunity to establish a reputation for himself, he has the talent to show that he is a top-flight keeper.  This World Cup could also serve as a try-out for him for the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

2. The injury forces Italy to play offense: Buffon’s injury ends any question about whether Italy can ride its defense to another title.  Despite Marchetti’s talent, you cannot shoulder the entire burden of a World Cup run on him like you could a Buffon.  Therefore, Marcello Lippi has to acknowledge that his club must step up its offense, and it has the talent to do so.

Antonio Di Natale came off the bench in Italy’s draw against Paraguay, and Lippi must now give serious thought to starting the Napoli striker.  Di Natale led Serie A in goals this past season, and if he cannot provide the needed offense, Sampdoria’s surprising offensive star Giampaolo Pazzini is available to start.  But regardless of how Lippi chooses to jumpstart his scoring, he has to realize that Italy needs to be more aggressive offensively.  They have the talent to do so, and a more aggressive approach will help them advance in this tournament.

3. The pressure is off the team: As defending World Cup champions and one of, if not the premier, soccer nations in the world, the pressure to win the World Cup will always be on the Azzurri.  But with the injuries to Buffon and Pirlo, plus what could arguably be a transition from the 2006 squad to younger stars (some of whom, unfortunately, are not on this squad), the Italians are actually not favored to win the World Cup.  Some people even predicted before the Buffon injury that Italy would not advance from Group F.  The club should use this situation to play looser and not be chained with expectations.  If they make a run at the championship, it will be a remarkable story of them overcoming age and injury.  If they don’t, they can pick an excuse as to why not.

4. Italy can win this group, and maybe the Cup, with a backup keeper: Let’s be honest, the Azzurri should win this group even with their backup keeper.  New Zealand is scrappy, but their squad should not be remotely ready to handle the defending champions.  Slovakia is talented, but this is their first World Cup and showed they are prone to rookie mistakes (like allowing an opponent to tie within minutes of the final whistle).  Italy playing its best game can grab the top spot and move out of the group.  From there, anything can happen in a one-and-done environment.  Depending on who advances from the group stages, Italy could be facing Japan in the second round and be a few wins away from the championship.

5.  Buffon could be back: What if Buffon and the Italian medical team work miracles and Buffon is ready for the later stages of the World Cup?  Instead of needing to win at least five matches with a backup keeper, maybe they only need to get out of Group F and win in the second round.  This is a very doable situation for the club.

Do I think Italy is better without Buffon?  Certainly not.  But can they use the situation to their advantage and overcome the injury?  Absolutely.

The biggest “win” in New Zealand soccer history was also a major victory for the Italian national team. 

Slovakia was the better club for ninety minutes today, taking a 1-0 lead over New Zealand early in the second half on a goal by Robert Vittek.  The All Whites, who looked like a club playing in their first World Cup in decades, hung tough but could not find an equalizer until Shane Smeltz sent in a cross which Winston Reid headed past Jan Mucha in the third minute of stoppage time.  The draw was New Zealand’s first World Cup point ever and only their second point in a FIFA competition.

But more importantly for Azzurri fans, Group F is back to square one.  All four clubs have a point and are squared on goal difference and points scored.  While this raises the importance of every subsequent match – since any unseen tie or victory could be even more definitive – it also should be a relief for Italian fans everywhere.

Italy’s draw with Paraguay can generously be described as a poor performance.  You can read an excellent summary of the match here, but in short Lippi’s squad played as many detractors said they would play – slowly and uncreatively.  As Serie A fans know, the Azzurri have a wealth of talent and are a squad that can play with the best in the world.  Maybe Italy has joined clubs like England, the Netherlands, and Portugal as quality clubs that are off to slow starts.

But the draw today allows Italy to continue to control its own destiny over the next two matches.  If Slovakia would have won today, it would have been atop Group F and Italy may have depended on other results to see if it would advance.  Now Italy’s path to the next round looks a bit easier.  New Zealand looked pretty good against Slovakia but this squad’s goal was to earn a point before going home and building off of that for future tournaments.  An angry Italian team should gain a full three points from the All Whites, which would allow them to control their own destiny heading into the final match against Slovakia. 

And after yesterday’s performance, this may be the best thing they can ask for.

(polls)

The Azzurri have played their first match, and while some will view the 1-1 draw result as a bad thing, the match was actually filled with positives for Italy. Although we’ve seen Germany demolish Australia 4-0, I think that the Azzurri match was unique, it finally felt like I was watching a World Cup match. Both sides wanted the win, both sides wanted to score goals, and both sides eventually did.While Italy are known for being defensive, they Azzurri  went out onto the field with the idea of scoring goals. It was refreshing compared to some of the matches that we’ve seen which were tight affairs in which both teams only defended. But onto the tactics which were part of Italy’s offensive style.

Marcello Lippi finally revealed his starting 11, he had Buffon in net with a back-line (from right to left) of Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Chiellini, and Criscito. If front of them, De Rossi and Montolivo acted as holding midfielders, freeing up the remaining four players for offensive duties. It was Gilardino alone up front with Marchisio behind him, Pepe on the right, and Iaquinta on the left, completing a relatively attacking side.

Italy started the match a bit slowly, getting the feel of the ball and the pitch, possession was what they tried to keep from Paraguay who had the dangerous double of Barrios and Valdez. But while Italy seemed dominant, one main thing was worrying tactically, Gilardino, Marchisio, and Iaquinta were all very still, not moving and providing options. This left De Rossi and Montolivo with the workload of spreading the play without options up front, only aided by a constantly working Pepe, and a solid Zambrotta. Paraguay scored their goal with a very nice header from a free kick, and another worrying point tactically cropped up; Italy weren’t marking very well, they left men with too much space as they were disorganized in marking. So the first half gone, Italy had work to do in the second half.

Buffon was taken off right at the half, replaced by Marchetti, it seems like he might have a hamstring or lower back problem which was bothering him, and Italy fans will be worried without their number one. But it was a breath of fresh air when Marchisio was taken off, the Juventus player was immobile, useless, and plainly having a bad day as he was replaced by a more active Camoranesi later in the second half. Italy were more decisive, Montolivo began to get more used to his playmaking position as he spread balls around for more dangerous crossing opportunities.

Eventually the goal came, De Rossi’s tap in followed a goalkeeper mistake by Villar who completely misjudged the corner’s trajectory. Italy were tied and had plenty of time to win the match as they pressed on with dominant possession and even better plays from a dynamic Montolivo and a never-stopping Pepe. Sadly putting Di Natale on for Gilardino didn’t get the winner, but Italy were able to win an important point, in a match filled with positives.

I was truly expecting the worst in this match, but Lippi has revealed a much more fluid and offensive team than I thought he would. What do you think about this, be sure to share your thoughts below!

An ESPN interview with some of the Italian national team players shows that not even the squad seems to know who will be on the pitch on Sunday when they kick off versus Paraguay.  Marcello Lippi has been tight-lipped about who will start and what formation the Azzurri will play, even noting that the formation could be fluid throughout the World Cup.  A look at the starters in recent friendlies is a useless guide, as the last two have seen vastly different lineups.

However, if Marcello Lippi asked me who my starting 11 would be on June 14 (and I am checking my voicemail just in case), here would be my suggestion:

Formation:4-3-3.  The strength of this squad is their defending, and this formation allows the Azzurri to play with their best four defenders.  Since they are without Pirlo for the first two matches at least, this formation allows for players to move up for more offensive firepower if needed, such as moving Maggio up to the midfield.

Keeper:Gianluigi Buffon.  I don’t think I need to explain why.

Backline: Leonardo Bonucci, Fabio Cannavaro, Giorgio Chiellini, Christian Maggio.  Cannavaro and Chiellini are no-brainers and should be on the pitch from the opening kick.  Maggio is arguably better placed as a winger but starting him on the backline allows him to move around in the 4-3-3 as needed, either into the midfield or remaining back.  Bonucci may be the most controversial inclusion, but the young defender has shown a knack for scoring off set pieces and could be a valuable option in the box on offense if the club needs to score.  Plus, by starting the Bari defender, Lippi can play his more experienced players later in the match if experience is called for.  Lippi can call on Zambrotta for experience but if he needs fresh legs, Bochetti would be available.

Midfield:Daniele De Rossi, Riccardo Montolivo, Gennaro Gattuso.  Midfield is arguably the weakest part of the club right now with injuries to Pirlo and Camoranesi, so a three-player midfield with the option of moving up a defender or dropping a forward is ideal.  DeRossi and Gattuso are veterans who have won a World Cup and can provide experience in managing a World Cup match from the middle.  Pirlo’s injury means the Azzurri lack a playmaker whose passing skills can jump start an attack, so Fiorentina captain Montolivo and his passing skills are needed in the middle.

Forwards: Fabio Quagliarella, Alberto Gilardino, Vincenzo Iaquinta.  My gut has me leaning toward these three being the starters up front, although it may be hard to keep Di Natale and Pazzini on the bench to start.  Di Natale was the leading scorer in Serie A, so if Italy fails to threaten the goal in their first match you may see DiNatale starting the second.  But this lineup allows for an experienced front to begin a match and, if Italy needs a quick strike or more offense, has some firepower coming off the bench. 

We are about 48 hours away from the Azzurri taking the pitch – who’s your starting 11?

The World Cup is one week away, and if you are a soccer fan, it is hard not to be anxious for the tournament to begin.  In anticipation of the first Group F match on June 14 (Italy v. Paraguay) I will post of preview of the other three teams in Group F, to help Azzurri fans see the competition in the group stage.  Also, I would encourage everyone to visit EPL Talk and cast their votes on which squads will advance from the group stage.

Paraguay

Manager – Gerardo Martino

FIFA Ranking – 31

Schedule – Italy (6/14), Slovakia (6/20), New Zealand (6/24)

Qualification – Second place, CONMEBOL

Big name player- Roque Santa Cruz (Manchester City)

Last time did not qualify for WC – 1994

For many experts, Paraguay is considered the second team most likely to advance from this group.  The nation is playing in its fourth consecutive World Cup but has never advanced past the second round.  To advance even further, it needs to rely on its defense while hoping its thin front line and inexperienced manager can come through when needed.

Paraguay finished a convincing second in the tough CONMEBOL, only one point behind first place Brazil.  In qualifying they won matches versus Brazil (2-0), Argentina (1-0), at Chile, and at Columbia, with a draw at Argentina.  But the big story in the lead up to the World Cup was the shooting of striker Salvador Cabenas in March, prompting his temporary retirement from soccer and depriving la Albirroja of a very talented striker.

Cabenas’s absence means the club will further need to rely on Roque Santa Cruz, the Premier League veteran who notched three goals in 18 EPL matches this season.  He is one of four players on the squad who played in England this year, and Serie A fans will recognize midfielder Edgar Barreto, who starred for Atalanta this season.  But other than those, most of the players have made their careers in South American leagues.  The stars of the 1998 and 2002 squads that have retired are being replaced by players that are veterans of the Paraguay squads that won the Milk Cup in 2002, 2003, and 2006.

One place where there is glaring inexperience is on the bench.  Manager Gerardo Martino was appointed in 2007, and this will be his first World Cup as a manager or player.  He was successful at the club level in Paraguay, but the difference between the national league and the world stage may place Paraguay at a slight disadvantage, especially against experienced squads like Italy.  He favors a 4-4-2 formation with Santa Cruz and Nelson Haedo Valdez (Borussia Dortmund) up front. 

Defense is the key for la Albirroja, as the club tends to play tight in the back and wait for opportunities to counter.  The keeper is Justo Villar, who made 15 appearances in La Liga for Real Vallalodid but has only seven minutes experience in the World Cup.  He has, however, appeared in multiple Copa America tournaments.  Cristian Riveros in the middle is the key to the counter – the left winger will lead the breaks and push the ball to the forwards to create scoring chances. 

But Paraguay is vulnerable to experienced teams that maintain possession.  And this is why they are an excellent first match for the Azzurri, an experienced and disciplined club.  Italy certainly has more talent, and if they dominate possession and take advantage of their scoring chances, the Paraguay match offers them an opportunity to build positive momentum into the next round.  But sloppy and undisciplined play and they could have problems with Paraguay, casting doubt on their repeat chances.

Paraguay has the talent to advance and cause problems for the Italians, as well as advance into the round of 16.  But anything more than that may be too much to ask.  But what do you think?

There you have it, Italy in Group F, drawn with New Zealand, Paraguay and Slovakia. A relatively simple group and one Marcelo Lippi should take the Azzurri through with comfort.

Group F

Italy
New Zealand
Paraguay
Slovakia

They begin the defence of their crown in Capetown at the Greenpoint soccer stadium on June 14th 2010 against Paraguay before traveling to Nelspruit to face New Zealand on 20th June in the newly built Mbombela Stadium and finishing their Group F campaign in Johannesburg at the Ellis Park Stadium against Slovakia on 24th June.

Lets hope World Cup number five is on its way to Rome and Italy retain the trophy deservingly won in Germany.

What are your thoughts on the draw and how do you think Italy will do? Leave a comment below.