Game is tomorrow at 12:30 PM CST on ESPN 2, ESPN 3 and Galivision....
A Scouting Report of Italy from ussoccerplayers.com.....
Some highlights:
Much more here:
http://www.ussoccerplayers.com/ussoccerplayers/2012/02/scouting-report-italy.html#more
A Scouting Report of Italy from ussoccerplayers.com.....
Some highlights:
The Azzurri have been a work-in-progress under coach Cesare Prandelli and feature a mix of veterans and newcomers. Gianluigi Buffon can become the most-capped goalkeeper in team history if he gets any playing time. Buffon is currently tied for third-place all-time with Dino Zoff at 112 caps. Both rank behind defenders Fabio Cannavaro (136) and Paolo Maldini (126).
It has been Prandelli’s focus on youth players over the past 19 months that has helped the Italians reemerge following their World Cup disappointment.
With the exception of Inter Milan’s Giampaolo Pazzini (23 caps and four goals for Italy), Prandelli has called up three other strikers with relatively little experience for the senior team. Sebastian Giovinco (Parma) has six caps and no goals, Alessandro Matri (Juventus) has just four caps and one goal and Fabio Borini (AS Roma), who has scored seven goals this season, is uncapped and got his first call up this past weekend. Prandelli left out an obvious option for an experienced striker, Manchester City's Mario Balotelli. Not completely surprising, since
Prandelli has hinted in the past that he may not utilize him for the Euro ’12.
The Americans will likely field a similar side to the one that beat Slovenia. Eight of the 11 players that started against Slovenia are available to Klinsmann. Midfielder Michael Bradley is the only player on the US roster with Serie A experience, having a standout season with Chievo. Bradley started against Genoa at the Luigi Ferraris stadium earlier this month in a 1-0 Chievo win.
Much more here:
http://www.ussoccerplayers.com/ussoccerplayers/2012/02/scouting-report-italy.html#more
Last edited: