Italy expected to be on offensive against Croats

Antonio Cassano believes Italy coach Cesare Prandelli will continue his attacking approach as the Azzurri tackle Croatia in their second European Championship Group C match on Thursday.

Italy surprised many people with their positive performance in a 1-1 draw with world champions Spain on Sunday as they took the game to the defending champions at times and created several scoring opportunities.

And Cassano said a return to the traditional "catenaccio" (door-bolt) style of the past is not an option under Prandelli.

"From the first day Prandelli's style has always been to attack," said the 29-year-old AC Milan forward.

"He's changed his system but his style is always to have possession and to attack.

"Against Spain we did it less because they had a lot of the ball but you saw the same idea, it didn't change from attacking."

Cassano himself is the man who leads the line but many are wondering who will play alongside him.

Errant Manchester City forward Mario Balotelli got the nod against Spain but played poorly and was replaced just before the half hour mark by Antonio Di Natale, who looked lively and scored the opener.

Prandelli has admitted he is considering dropping Balotelli in favour of Di Natale and Cassano says he has no preference as to who he plays alongside.

"The important thing is that I play," he joked. "Whoever (Prandelli) he chooses, the problem would be if they both played and not me!"

Italy need a victory to ensure they tackle Ireland in their final group game with their destiny in their own hands as Croatia won their opening match against the Irish 3-1.

Failure to beat Croatia would mean Italy needing to beat Ireland in their final game in Poznan and hoping the result between Spain and Croatia does not cost them.

The importance of this match has not been lost on Prandelli who says he will change some things.

"What counts in the choices is the nervous and physical state of the players," he said.

"This will be the decisive match of the group. The idea is not to change too much so that we have consistency."

In the first match against Spain, Prandelli abandoned the four-man defence that conceded the least goals of any team in qualifying and reached the finals with two games to spare.

Instead he opted for a back three with wing-backs Christian Maggio and Emanuele Giaccherini working tirelessly on the flanks.

Prandelli has yet to decide what to do in his next match but says much will depend on the fitness of his players.

But he also admitted he hadn't decided who would start up front.

"Before thinking about how to tackle Croatia we have to study them well," he said.

"When we decide on how to tackle this team, we will decide on the forwards."

The pressure is on Italy as they play opponents with two more points than them.

Cassano is wary of the threat posed by Tottenham playmaker Luka Modric.

"Their main strength of course is Modric, he's the best of the Croatians and is a great player," he said.

"We'll play like we did against Spain, we'll go for a result, we'll play well and try to win the game to seal qualification."

But Croatia coach Slaven Bilic says his side only need one more win to reach the quarter-finals.

"We have three points, and we're top of the group," said Bilic.

"One win would be enough to go to the quarter-finals. We cannot fly in the championship, but let's go step by step.

"We respect all of our opponents. We have no fear against anyone. Spain and Italy are favourites in our group, but I still think we are able to beat one of them."

Should they do that, they will be in the last eight while Italy would need to beat Ireland in their final game and hope Spain slip up somewhere as well.

Loading...

Editor’s note:Yahoo! Philippines encourages responsible comments that add dimension to the discussion. No bashing or hate speech, please. You can express your opinion without slamming others or making derogatory remarks.

Odd Stories

  • Prosecutor in Berlusconi sex trial receives mail with bullets

    Prosecutor in Berlusconi sex trial receives mail with bullets

    Reuters - Thu, May 23, 2013
    Prosecutor in Berlusconi sex trial receives mail with bullets

    MILAN (Reuters) - The prosecutor in former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's sex trial has received a series of anonymous letters of threats, including one with two bullets, Milan's chief prosecutor said on Thursday. The letters against Ilda Boccassini have become more frequent since she requested a six-year jail sentence and a lifetime ban on holding public office for Berlusconi, Edmondo Bruti Liberati said. ...

  • College student snares record long Burmese python near Miami

    College student snares record long Burmese python near Miami

    Reuters - Wed, May 22, 2013
    College student snares record long Burmese python near Miami

    By Barbara Liston ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) - An 18-foot, 8-inch Burmese python set a record for the longest snake ever captured in South Florida, where the exotic species has taken up residence. College student Jason Leon snared the female python in a rural area southeast of Miami earlier this month, when he saw part of it sticking out from brush along the roadside, said Carli Segelson, a spokeswoman for the state's Fish and Wildlife Commission. ...

  • A gnome grows in Chelsea - at the flower show, that is

    A gnome grows in Chelsea - at the flower show, that is

    Reuters - Tue, May 21, 2013
    A gnome grows in Chelsea - at the flower show, that is

    By Paul Casciato LONDON (Reuters) - Some spectators at London's Chelsea Flower Show wouldn't be caught dead with one in the trunk of their Bentley, but garden gnomes have turned up at the show's 100th edition this year, for charity. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), which runs Chelsea in the grounds of the Christopher Wren-built Royal Hospital Chelsea, has lifted a ban on the ceramic figures with floppy hats and beards in order to raise funds for an RHS charity that supports the use of

  • Marijuana waste helps turn pot-eating pigs into tasty pork roast

    Marijuana waste helps turn pot-eating pigs into tasty pork roast

    Reuters - Tue, May 21, 2013
    Marijuana waste helps turn pot-eating pigs into tasty pork roast

    By Jonathan Kaminsky OLYMPIA, Washington (Reuters) - With Washington state about to embark on a first-of-its-kind legal market for recreational marijuana, the budding ranks of new cannabis growers face a quandary over what to do with the excess stems, roots and leaves from their plants. Susannah Gross, who owns a five-acre farm north of Seattle, is part of a group experimenting with a solution that seems to make the most of marijuana's appetite-enhancing properties - turning weed waste into pig

  • Jon Stewart's humor a hit with millions of envious Chinese

    Jon Stewart's humor a hit with millions of envious Chinese

    Reuters - Mon, May 20, 2013
    Jon Stewart's humor a hit with millions of envious Chinese

    By Jane Lee SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Humor may not always translate well, but Jon Stewart is picking up millions of fans in China, where his gloves-off political satire is refreshing for many in a country where such criticism is a rarity - especially when directed at their own leaders. A recent segment on North Korea scored over 4 million views on microblogger Sina Weibo, and even stodgy state broadcaster CCTV has used Stewart's "The Daily Show" in a report, though they wouldn't let a Chinese

  • Aze Ong takes crochet to the next level VERA Files - The Inbox

    By Elizabeth Lolarga, VERA Files Photos courtesy of Aze Ong She is not that traditional craftswoman doing crochet while on a rocking chair with the television set on. She does not follow a pattern from a catalogue. Free-spirited Aze Ong … Continue reading →

  • The joy of chamber music according to Albert Tiu VERA Files - The Inbox

    By Pablo A. Tariman, VERA Files Chamber music enthusiasts will have another special treat when Singapore-based Filipino pianist Albert Tiu teams up with Belgian clarinetist Marcel Luxen Saturday, June 1 at the Ayala Museum courtesy of the MCO Foundation. A … Continue reading →

  • Time matters little to world’s fastest jigsaw puzzle maker VERA Files - The Inbox

    By Maria Feona Imperial, VERA Files Perhaps for breaking a world record, she has already found the answer to every jigsaw puzzle ever made. But Georgina Gil-Lacuna has one more left unresolved: the puzzle of time. And she likes it … Continue reading →

  • Chinese, Taiwanese nationals with computer gadgets held VERA Files - The Inbox

    By Leilanie Adriano, VERA Files Laoag City, Ilocos Norte – At least 40 Chinese and 12 Taiwanese nationals who were found with several electronic and computer gadgets and accessories in a resort in Vigan were rounded up and detained for … Continue reading →

  • Ramos urges neutral probe of Taiwan incident, reminds Pinoys of Contemplacion case VERA Files - The Inbox

    By Ellen Tordesillas, VERA Files Makassar, Indonesia—Former President Fidel V. Ramos has recommended the creation of a neutral investigation on the May 9 encounter between a Philippine patrol ship and Taiwanese fishing vessel in the disputed maritime boundary that resulted … Continue reading →

POLL
Loading...
Poll Choice Options