Tag Archives: Azzurri

Hodgson hindered for Azzurri test

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Totesport has chalked up England the 6/4 favourites in the match betting for an international friendly against Italy (9/5 draw 9/4 – 90 minutes) in Switzerland on Wednesday.

Roy Hodgson has seen his preparations for the Berne rematch against England’s Euro 2012 conquerors hit by a raft of late withdrawals, the latest being Arsenal winger Theo Walcott.

The Emirates Stadium flyer has a thigh injury and joins team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Joe Hart and Daniel Sturridge on the sidelines.

At 23, Walcott was one of the older heads in a new-look and youthful England squad and confirmation of his withdrawal further blunts the Three Lions as an attacking proposition.

Hodgson’s pragmatic approach, underpinned by a more sobering level of expectations, won him some new friends in Poland and Ukraine, although his safety-first brand of football failed to inspire.

England did not lose a game in normal time this summer and scored in all three group games, but this does not paint the full picture.

The first genuine test came against the same opponents at the knockout stages and England spent the best part of 120 minutes chasing shadows.

That said, Italy too intend to experiment and coach Cesare Prandelli is without a host of marquee players.

There will be no fewer than eight uncapped players in his squad, in part due to the club commitments of his Juventus and Napoli contingent, but the likes of Daniele De Rossi and Alberto Aquilani are included. The maverick Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli will also miss out because of an eye infection.

Andy Carroll has a chance to prove he can be a mainstay No 9 in the Hodgson set-up and he is 7/1 joint favourite with Jermain Defoe in the first goalscorer market, although Ashley Young may appeal at 9/1 in the same market given that he has been given licence to roam.

The game is England’s only friendly before the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign starts in September.

England can be backed at 2/5 to emerge Group H winners and 20/1 to triumph in Brazil in two years’ time.

Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Birmingham City), John Ruddy (Norwich City).

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Tottenham Hotspur), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City).

Midfielders: Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Jake Livermore (Tottenham Hotspur), James Milner (Manchester City), Jack Rodwell (Manchester City), Ashley Young (Manchester United).

Forwards: Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur).

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Germany to end Azzurri hoodoo

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Surprisingly Germany have not beaten Italy in their last seven competitive meetings but Die Mannschaft are in prime position to end that disappointing run in their Euro 2012 semi-final showdown on Thursday (Germany 10/11, draw 12/5, Italy 7/2 – Match Betting).

The Germans remain one of the favourites to win Euro 2012, having played better football than defending champions Spain, who have failed to get out of second gear in the tournament so far.

Head coach Joachim Low decided to field a relatively weakened attacking line-up in their 4-2 victory over Greece in the quarter-finals and that decision could prove to be a great move from the tactician.

Mario Gomez (4/1 – First Goalscorer), Lukas Podolski and Thomas Muller were are rested for the win over the Greeks and the trio look set to make a return to the side with fresh legs to face an Italian team who will be weary.

The Germans will have watched in the comfort of their hotel as the Azzurri slogged to a penalty shoot-out victory over England in Kiev.

Having battled for 120 minutes and gone through the drama of the 4-2 shoot-out win over the Three Lions, the match will have taken a lot out of the side who were considered dark horses before the competition.

The big question over the Italians has been where the goals will come from and Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli will be under serious pressure for his starting role after a disappointing showing against England.

Balotelli (7/1 – First Goalscorer) seemed off the pace and most of his shots found their way into the stadium car park rather than anywhere near the goal.

Manager Cesare Prandelli has been pretty loyal to the controversial figure but his patience will have been tested by the player’s below par quarter-final display.

Italy do have other options in attack, with the likes of Antonio Di Natale and Alessandro Diamanti pushing for a starting role to line up alongside Antonio Cassano.

The key man for the Azzurri will once again be their midfield general Andrea Pirlo, who was imperious against the English, who were guilty of giving the Juventus playmaker time and space on the ball.

It’s not the best kept secret in football that if you stop Pirlo you pretty much stop the Italians, so expect Low to have done his homework and have someone like Sami Khedira tracking him throughout the game.

Considering the extra time Germany have had to prepare for this game and the fact they saw off the Greeks in 90 minutes, the odds are really stacked up against the Azzurri (7/4 – To Qualify).

Italy will have to be at their best if they are to come close to beating one of the tournament favourites and it’s hard to see them edging the Germans in normal time, but anything can happen in extra-time and penalties.

However, with the returning firepower of Gomez, Muller and Podolski, Germany (13/8 – Euro 2012 Outright) should manage to book their place in yet another final of a major tournament.

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