Italy’s confidence is so brittle that the holders are talking about the threat posed by New Zealand in today’s Group F World Cup clash rather than boldly predicting how they will destroy the 78th-ranked team.
The Azzurri’s 1-1 draw with Paraguay in Monday’s group opener was the latest in a series of unconvincing displays and they will be taking nothing for granted at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, despite New Zealand’s clear inferiority.
Inexperienced Italy goalkeeper Federico Marchetti will start following Gianluigi Buffon’s back injury, adding to the uncertainty witnessed in the defense against Paraguay.
The 27-year-old, who sometimes awkwardly punches the ball, has just six caps and has barely played with Italy’s back four.
New Zealand earned their first point at a World Cup when Winston Reid netted with a header to equalize in injury time of their opening 1-1 draw with Slovakia, and Italy are concerned about their opponents’ height in the box.
“We know they are a very physical squad and good in the air,” Marchetti told reporters, aware he will have to command his area if Italy are to avoid any embarrassment.
The holders are also scarred by a 4-3 win over New Zealand in a friendly just before last year’s Confederations Cup in South Africa, where they were dumped out in the group stage.
New Zealand, who qualified for the World Cup by beating teams like New Caledonia before prevailing in a playoff against Bahrain, worried Italy repeatedly in that meeting and only a late flurry prevented Marcello Lippi’s side from humiliation.
Left back Domenico Criscito, likely to keep his place despite struggling with his crosses on Monday, is also wary.
“New Zealand are very strong from dead balls,” he said. “We have to go on the field to win the game. We are not thinking about losing.”
Ask most Italy fans about the biggest threat offered by their side and you might get a blank look.
Forwards Alberto Gilardino and Vincenzo Iaquinta were anonymous against Paraguay and Lippi has not ruled out changes, although making an immediate switch is not his way despite Giampaolo Pazzini and Antonio Di Natale knocking on the door.
The team will continue to alternate between a 4-4-2 formation and a 4-2-3-1 given that the absence of midfielder Andrea Pirlo limits their creative options, although winger Mauro Camoranesi could come into the side.
Pirlo is running and kicking after his calf injury, but Lippi has all but said he would not face New Zealand. He should return for the final group game against Slovakia on Thursday.
Group F
Team | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
|
Paraguay | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Italy | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
New Zealand | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Slovakia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Bologna on Thursday advanced past Empoli to reach their first Coppa Italia final in more than half a century. Thijs Dallinga’s 87th-minute header earned Bologna a 2-1 win and his side advanced 5-1 on aggregate. Giovanni Fabbian opened the scoring for Bologna with a header seven minutes in. Then Viktor Kovalenko equalized for Empoli in the 30th minute by turning in a rebound to finish off a counterattack. Bologna won the first leg 3-0. In the May 14 final in Rome, Bologna are to face AC Milan, who eliminated city rivals Inter 4-1 on aggregate following a 3-0 win on Wednesday. Bologna last reached the
If the Wild finally break through and win their first playoff series in a decade, Minnesota’s top line likely will be the reason. They were all over the Golden Knights through the first two games of their NHL Western Conference quarter-finals series, which was 1-1 going back to Minnesota for Game 3 today. The Wild tied the series with a 5-2 win on Tuesday. Matt Boldy had three goals and an assist in the first two games, while Kirill Kaprizov produced two goals and three assists. Joel Eriksson Ek, who centers the line, has yet to get on the scoresheet. “I think the biggest
The Minnesota Timberwolves, with so many promising performances spoiled by late mistakes fresh in their memory bank, sure timed this strong finish well. Jaden McDaniels scored a career playoff-high 30 points and spearheaded Minnesota’s stifling defense on an ailing Luka Doncic, and the Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Lakers 116-104 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Friday night. “Jaden never looks tired. He looks like he could play 48 minutes,” said teammate Anthony Edwards, who had 29 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Julius Randle added 22 points for the Wolves, who outscored
From a commemorative jersey to a stadium in his name, Argentine soccer organizers are planning a slew of tributes to their late “Captain” Pope Francis, eulogized as the ultimate team player. Tributes to the Argentine pontiff, a lifelong lover of the game, who died on Monday at the age of 88, have been peppered with soccer metaphors in his homeland. “Francisco. What a player,” the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) said, describing the first pope from Latin America and the southern hemisphere as a generational talent who “never hogged the ball” and who showed the world “the importance of having an Argentine captain,
RSS