How is italy in the confederations cup

Cesare Prandelli has changed the way Italy plays, and this team is well-positioned to make a deep run into this tournament. First and foremost in Italy's favor is their engine, Andrea Pirlo. The ageless midfielder didn't have quite the season he had a year ago—but to match a season like his year is hard to do.

He was still the lynchpin in the midfield that led Juventus to their second straight scudetto and the Champions League quarterfinal. L'architetto wasn't on the field for much of the World Cup, and the difference was marked between that tournament and Euro He dominated the midfield for long stretches and was named to the team of the tournament as Italy made a surprise run to the final before losing to Spain in a match that was much closer than the scoreline suggests.

He played well in this tournament four years ago, and as the end of his international career approaches, he'll be looking to move his team toward their first trophy in seven years—and establish themselves as a top contender for the World Cup. Another thing the Azzurri have going for them that they didn't four years ago was a dynamic young attack. Toni was far removed from the form of his goal season, and it would prove to be his final international tournament.

Iaquinta had never been more than a middling attacking talent, and while Gilardino did score 19 times for Fiorentina that year, he and the other main forwards were target men rather than forwards who could create on their own. Italy qualified after finishing as runners-up at Euro to Spain, who had already booked their place in Brazil by winning the World Cup two years earlier.

Forget cliched stereotypes about negativity and Catenaccio - Cesare Prandelli's adventurous Azzurri look to press their opponents high up the pitch and dominate possession. Those attacking instincts reaped dividends for the majority of Euro , when the Azzurri alternated between and formations. In the last year Prandelli has experimented with , with mixed results. Italy's only previous Confederations Cup was the disastrous campaign in , when they lost to Egypt and Brazil.

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Lionel Messi could add a second trophy to his international cabinet. Argentina won their final against Brazil, as Lionel Messi lifted his first major honors with the national team, in a tournament in which he also won the best player and top scorer awards. Meanwhile, Italy defeated England on penalties after a draw. Italian keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was given the award for best player after two consecutive victories in shootouts in the tournament.

Xavi sends in the freekick and Ramos heads well wide from an offside position. So off he trots to be replaced by Jesus Navas. Will that prove to be wine for water? Or just more stale milk? It's up to Spain, then, to change: either their system or their performance levels. We'll have to wait and see what that means in terms of formation. Lovely transition football with great use of space and the kind of intelligent, calm, accurate interchange you want from this level of competition. The diving headers are just a bonus.

Great atmosphere from the crowd too! Possibly, with you being 30 years younger. Honduras, Cameroon He scored in the Euro Semi Final, against Russia. I have it on DVD. It's annoying me. No time for Dr Webb to add on because there were hardly any fouls: just high-tempo and high-quality football, mostly from Italy. More please! Updated at 8. Casillas bats it away but Italy recover it and De Rossi has another go from outside the area. Casillas bats it away again. The speed and dexterity of Italy on the break are really tormenting the Spaniards, who have Casillas and wonky finishing to thank for the current score.

I'd like to see the stats on the number of times that Iniesta and Xavi have been forced into giving the ball away I suspect it may be a record high. He received a pass to his feet on the edge of the area and then turned deftly past Barzagli and unleashed a powerful shot that flew just wide. Giacherrini danced in from the left and then clipped a cute ball over to Maggio, who yet again had eluded the dozing Alba.

Casillas had to come up with an excellent save to turn his close-range header away! Thing is, Italy are by far the more threatening team so far and Del Bosque hasn't done anything about it so far. Spain is being patient as usual To heck with the World Cup. Italy are determined not to let them, though, and are working ferociously to get the ball back and launch forward again.

In fairness, there's been no diving so far and no contentious decision by Cliff Richa.. Gilardino's excellent movement up front is stretching the strangely dumb Spanish defence and giving his team-mates plenty of options.

A diagonal ball found Gilardino at the right-hand corner of the box and the striker nodded back to Marchisio, who was inexplicably unmarked on the penalty spot but sent a diving header wide. Pirlo delivered a sumptuous freekick from the right and De Rossi glanced an eight-yard header