World champion
Spain will face Italy in the semifinal of Confederation Cup on 27th
June at Estadio Castelao.
Last time they
met in UEFA European Championship last summer in which Spain beat Italy by four
goals to nil.
Spain boss Vicente
Del Bosque told, "Italy has basically remained the same team and us also,
the same coaches, the players themselves have not changed much. They want
revenge and we want to reach the final,"
Italy coach Cesare
Prandelli told, “Spain are the best team in the world and they have proved that
over the last four or five years. They are almost impossible to beat”. He
further added they will not give us a ball they will definitely keep possession
more than us.
INJURY NEWS:
Spain
Cesc Fabregas
and Roberto Soldado both are doubtful but for Spain it is not a big problem.
Their bench can easily fill those places.
Italy
Main problem
will be for Italy as their star striker Mario Balotelli is injured and will not
play and midfielder Andrea Pirlo may not be fully fit for this match. Both are
in good form and they can’t be easy replaced. Ignazio Abate will also not be
available. Italy will have to suffer this.
FORM GUIDE: (last five matches)
Italy
22nd June,
2013 Italy 2 – 4 Brazil (FIFA Confederation Cup)
19th June,
2013 Italy 4 – 3 Japan (FIFA
Confederation Cup)
16th June,
2013 Mexico 1 – 2 Italy (FIFA Confederation Cup)
11th June,
2013 Italy 2 – 2 Haiti (Friendly)
7th June,
2013 Czech
Republic 0 – 0 Italy (World Cup
Qualifiers)
Spain
23rd June,
2013 Nigeria 0 – 3 Spain (FIFA Confederation Cup)
20th June,
2013 Spain 10 - 0 Tahiti (FIFA Confederation Cup)
16th June,
2013 Spain 2 – 1 Uruguay (FIFA Confederation Cup)
12th June,
2013 Spain 2 – 0 Republic of Ireland (Friendly)
8th June,
2013 Spain
2 – 1 Haiti (Friendly)
HEAD TO HEAD:
26th March, 2008 Spain 1-0 Italy (Friendly)
22nd June, 2008 Italy 0-0 Spain (European
Championship)
10th Aug, 2011 Italy 2-1 Spain (Friendly)
10th June, 2012 Spain 1-1 Italy
(European Championship)
1st July, 2012
Spain 4-0 Italy (European Championship)
PROBABLE LINEUPS:
Spain
Casillas,
Arbeloa, Pique, Ramos, Alba, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Soldado, Pedro.
Spain lineup
will be the same as of the first match against Uruguay. Fabregas and Soldado
both have unconfirmed injuries and are doubtful for the fixture. Barcelona’s
Fabregas can be replaced by Chelsea’s Mata or Manchester City’s Silva. Whereas,
Valencia’s Soldado can be replaced by Villa or Torres of Barcelona and Chelsea.
The bench is too strong so Del Bosque will not be facing any problems. The
defence line for Spain will be same with Casillas in goal.
Italy
Buffon, Abate,
Chiellini, Barzagli, De Sciglio, Pirlo, De Rossi, Marchisio, Giovinco,
Giaccherini, El Shaarawy.
Meanwhile, Italy
coach Prandelli will have to replace AC Milan's Mario Balotelli. The 22 year old
was the only proven striker for Italy. Prandelli could switch to a three man
defence, with Andrea Barzagli, Chiellini and Christian Bonucci in front of
goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
PREDICTION:
Spain is the
best team in the world. I will go 3-0 to Spain.
Spain wins on penalty kicks. Hurt loose for Italy. Though possible to win the game.
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