Italy (14/1 to win Euro 2012) may be one of the traditional footballing heavyweights but, ahead of Euro 2012, football in the country is again being weighed down by match-fixing allegations. Will this potential big scandal affect Cesare Prandelli’s side in Poland and Ukraine?
Officials in Italy are looking into the possibility that several Serie A games over the past few years were rigged, while full-back Domenico Criscito was forced out of the squad last week when it emerged he was embroiled in the investigation.
The story has hit the headlines in Italy – and indeed across Europe – in the build-up to the tournament and many have questioned whether the Azzurri will lose their focus as they prepare to tackle an already tough Group C featuring Spain, Croatia and Republic of Ireland over the next few weeks.
The 2006 World Cup winners may have found it tough going getting out of that group anyway but their task may now be much harder because of the ongoing investigation.
Criscito has publicly hit out at the decision to axe him and he believes he has been made a scapegoat by the Italian FA. He is especially unhappy about Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci’s inclusion despite the fact he is also under investigation but has not received an official notification from the authorities.
All of this has led to some to speculate Italy are in crisis and may well be facing another early plane trip home – like they did in a thoroughly-underwhelming 2010 World Cup campaign.
However, former national boss Marcello Lippi and ex-Italy forward Sandro Mazzola both believe the ongoing match-fixing enquiry could have a similar effect to six years ago when another investigation was the backdrop to the Azzurri’s unlikely triumph in Germany.
Lippi, who was in charge in 2006, said: “It feels as though they are going through the same experience as that of 2006. I remember that week in Coverciano [ahead of the tournament in Germany] was not easy for us and there was the fear of what people would have said of us abroad.
“But no-one said anything in Germany. I believe that as soon as the national team travels to Poland, their only thoughts will be on football, on training and on the European Championship.”
Certainly the argument that the developing scandal will effect the squad was given credence by their limp 3-0 friendly defeat against Russia over the weekend but Mazzola, who has tipped Italy to make the semis, is confident it can have a galvanising effect on the team and could be used as a positive (Italy 3/1 to win Group C).
“I think the national team was conditioned by what happened during the week in their game against Russia,” he said. “But in any case the performance was not good and they only had two chances of goal throughout the game.
“Regardless of that game, I believe the national team can be among the top four at the European Championship.”
Any squad with the talent of Andrea Pirlo, Mario Balotelli (20/1 – Top Goalscorer) and Antonio Cassano in it must be respected but the fear is it will also be a squad crippled by anxiety over the continuing developments back home.
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There is only one midweek fixture in the Premier League this week and as it happens, it is repeat of the FA Cup final with Manchester City hosting Stoke City at Eastlands – kick off at 19:45.
It is 48 years since a country successfully defended a World Cup – when Brazil sealed back-to-back triumphs – but Marcello Lippi believes Italy (12/1 to win the tournament) can repeat that feat.