National A

Italy loses, but the new course shows quality and commitment

Londra 10/08/2010

Just like Lippi in 2004 in Iceland, even Cesare Prandelli debuts as coach of the National team with a loss (1-0) against the Ivory Coast. “Let’s hope it brings me good luck, too”, said the head coach in the locker room. In the meantime, the negative streak continues for Italy that has not one a match in 2010, but there is a big difference between this loss and the one recorded against Slovakia in South Africa. There are many excuses: absences, physical condition, a completely new team that was put together in just two days, even if a defensive distraction was enough t ogive the opponents the win.
It is true that the new course has begun with a loss, but also with new players, commitment and the will to change. The new course began with five new players, Sirigu, Motta, Molinaro, Amauri and Balotelli, and only one World Champion, De Rossi, who acts as the link between past and future, and a team that has definitely lowered its average age. The team begins after a little less than fifty days from the end of the disappointing adventure in South Africa, with a 4-2-3-1 that counts on a sector, the offense, that is as totally new as it is full of quality. Not only the head coach put his attention on Cassano, and his return on the National team, on Balotelli and Amauri.
A National team with quality was the one that inaugurated the new season at Opton Park in London, before the two European Championship qualifying matches scheduled in September against Estonia and far Oer Islands. A determined Italy that started off offensively, that plays with their head up high, with personality, trying to put into practice the suggestions given by Prandelli who had asked the players to “set aside their fears”. With De Rossi who, in the role of captain while waiting for the return of Buffon, leading the plays, Cassano and Balotelli show what they can do in the first minutes of play with some interesting plays that result in good scoring occasions. But the Ivory Coast is an opponent to be respected: a team that features good technique, is fast above all in small spaces, it was eliminated from the World Cup after the first round but with their head up high.
After a free kick by De Rossi (20’), that went off to the side, the Ivory Coast players go closet o scoring on 30’: but one minute later, Italy responds with a good play starting from Balotelli, continued by Cassano for Amauri who was anticipated as he was about to shoot. And Amauri ended the first half with a header that went over the crossbar.
Lively on offense, with some problems on defense, the National team coached by Prandelli opens the second half attacking, coming closet o scoring with a Cassano-Motta play that hits the goalpost and shortly after a left-footed shot by Pepe. But on 9’, the Ivory Coast goes ahead with a header by K. Toure after a defensive distraction by the Azzurri. A cold shower for Italy: Prandelli starts sending in the first substitutions on 13’ with Borriello in for Balotelli and Quagliarella in for Amauri. Only Cassano remains from the starting offense, but on 25’ Prandelli substitutes the Sampdoria player with Giuseppe Rossi and sends in Cassani on defense for Motta. Fifth substitution on 28’: Marchisio in for Pepe. The Ivory Coast is still ahead, in spite of two good plays by Quagliarella. Last substitution on 35’ with Montolivo in for Palombo. Giuseppe Rossi tries to give some speed to the offensive plays but while the Italian team tries to tie the score, they also concentrate on personal plays that give no result.