Italy's dynamic diamond formation makes them vulnerable out broad – Steven Gerrard's surprise darts may be decisive
The diamond standard
Cesare Prandelli has chosen 2 formations inside Euro 2012. He began with a 3-5-2 for the draws with Spain plus Croatia, before flipping to a 4-4-2 diamond for the 2-0 win over Ireland. Despite the improvement inside results, Italy didn't appear very more comfortable with all the diamond program, plus Prandelli was dissatisfied the Italian hit had reported his intention to employ which formation. "I had hoped to gain a small advantage," he complained.
Maybe it's an sophisticated bluff, nevertheless those papers stay convinced Prandelli usually stick to the diamond against England. Whether Italy utilize 3 or 4 central midfielders, the key theme of Prandelli's midfield is rotation. He doesn't have a clearly defined trequartista (attacking midfielder) to rely on, as well as the midfield he fielded against Ireland is a fascinating program about paper – inside impact, it is very upside-down. Thiago Motta, renowned because a carrying midfielder, is furthest forward, whilst the largest creative danger is Andrea Pirlo, a No10 early inside his profession, that sits inside front of the defence. Daniele De Rossi plays a box-to-box character found on the left, plus Claudio Marchisio slides into attacking positions within the appropriate.
Rather than linking midfield plus attack, Motta drops deeper plus creates area for his midfield colleagues to storm into. Motta isn't too worried with linking midfield plus attack straight – against Ireland, the player he many frequently passed to was Pirlo, underlining the Juventus player's character because chief playmaker. The player nearest to Steven Gerrard plus Scott Parker will be Motta, when fit, nevertheless he's generally a decoy.
The key vulnerability
Italy is exposed down the flanks, because the diamond packs the centre of the pitch however has small assistance to the full-backs. Considering which neither right-back Ignazio Abate neither left-sided Federico Balzaretti are especially reliable defenders, Roy Hodgson may definitely ask his side to receive the ball out instantly to the wingers. Abate plus Balzaretti began against Ireland as a result of the system: Prandelli prefers them because full-backs, having picked Christian Maggio plus Emanuele Giaccherini, more all-natural wing-backs, whenever utilizing 3-5-2.
England may outnumber the Italian full-backs by pushing Ashley Cole plus Glen Johnson forward to exploit Italy's narrowness. The diamond slides over the pitch laterally to protect against this danger – plus De Rossi plus Marchisio are very mobile – however this leaves Italy vulnerable to fast switches of play from flank to flank. Gerrard has the ability to play crossfield balls plus change the angle, though England have tended to move just 1 full-back forward at a time beneath Hodgson, generating this approach less probably.
Alternatively, the width may come from a surprise source. One of the England forwards could drift broad to create overloads, or Gerrard could move to the flank himself. He has assisted 3 objectives from right-wing crosses, 2 from open play. His surprise darts down the proper might be a decisive element again.
The creative threat
Italy have scored 1 objective from open play at Euro 2012, however they nevertheless provide a big creative danger. Their key approach is to receive Pirlo found on the ball, thus he will hit lengthy diagonals towards the 2 strikers, Antonio Cassano plus Mario Balotelli, whom function the spaces amongst the opposition full-backs plus centre-backs. So, whilst England is keen to attack Italy down the flanks, Hodgson is aware of exiting his centre-backs exposed. That was Spain's condition – without width from significant up the pitch, they forced full-backs Alvaro Arbeloa plus Jordi Alba forward, however, this enabled Cassano plus Balotelli to drift broad into area whenever Italy earned the ball. In turn, which forced the centre-backs into uncomfortable positions, plus it's unlikely which John Terry, inside specific, need to battle against Cassano or Balotelli close to the touchline.
But stopping these attacks at the source is important. Pirlo's passing range is exemplary, however he doesn't relish confrontations – usually struggling to win inexpensive free-kicks – plus when the opposition spot a difficult functioning, energetic player inside front of him, he is a lot less efficient.
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