SOCCER:THERE IS a theory which suggests there is nothing like a good, old-fashioned scandal to get the Italy team playing really well. In 2006, Italy won the World Cup in the middle of the infamous Calciopoli scandal, whilst the leading goalscorer in Italy's 1982 World Cup winning team Paolo Rossi only just made it to the finals, having been ruled out of football for nearly two seasons for his (alleged) involvement in a 1980 betting scandal.
If that is the case, the Republic of Ireland could be in for a tough time in Liege this evening when they meet Italy in a prestige friendly as Italian football is being rocked by a betting scandal that could yet prove to be even more damaging than Calciopoli.
As it is, this Cesare Prandelli-coached Italy has already begun to play more than well.
Following a comfortable 3-0 win over Estonia in a Euro 2012 qualifier in Modena on Friday night, Italy appear to have Group C under control.
They are five points clear of Slovenia with a game in hand. Given Italy’s next two games are away to the Faroe Islands and at home to Slovenia in early September, qualification seems only a matter of time.
Those who thought this comfortable state of affairs might prompt Prandelli to opt for a policy of wholesale experimentation, however, had better think again.
Seven of the 14 who played against Estonia will turn out tonight with the attack again led by Villareal striker Giuseppe Rossi in partnership with Inter Milan’s Giampaolo Pazzini, with both prompted by playmakers Andrea Pirlo (Juventus) and Fiorentina’s Riccardo Montolivo.
Prandelli’s main changes come in defence where Bologna goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano takes over from Juve’s Gigi Buffon, with Mattia Cassani (Palermo), Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina) and Domenico Criscito (Genoa) replacing Christian Maggio (Napoli), Andrea Ranocchia (Inter) and Federico Balzaretti (Palermo) respectively.
Talking to reporters yesterday, Prandelli espressed the hope the side will continue on from where it left off on Friday: “Our opponents are in excellent form and so I expect to learn a lot from this game . . . I’m curious to see how the team plays with a target-man striker like Pazzini.
“But that doesn’t mean we have to knock in only high crosses, that would be embarrassing. Our strong point has to be our organisation.”
Inevitably, Prandelli paid a handsome tribute to his opposite number, Giovanni Trapattoni, who coached Prandelli for six seasons at Juventus, between 1979 and 1985:
“He’s somebody special, a myth, you’ll never be as good as him . . . It will be a big moment for me to play against him, as indeed to play against Marco Tardelli. Deep down, below that Irish shirt, I’m sure they both still have a blue Italian shirt.”
