Alright, time to stop playing around, right? Italy has looked very subpar for large stretches of these Euros, something we couldn’t really say during the Euro 2020. Yes, they weren’t lighting the place on fire but they were disciplined and in control most matches. Now yes, they didn’t look like world beaters in the group stage for those 2020 Euros but I don’t think many of us have the same level of confidence in this team compared to that one.
The team in 2020 was filled with players we had seen called up for the better part of a decade. This team is not that. There a lots of new faces, faces looking to earn our trust. Maybe that starts today?…
*Love this pic…doesn’t look like the shot is going in (but we all know the ending…)
Matchday - Round of 16
LAST FIVE:
ITALY: DLWWD
SWITZERLAND: DDWDW
FORMATIONS
SWITZERLAND (3-4-3): Sommer; Schär, Akanji, Rodriguez; Aebischer, Freuler, Xhaka (C), Rieder; Vargas, Embolo, Ndoye
ITALY (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Mancini, Darmian; Cristante, Fagioli, Barella; Chiesa, Scamacca, El Shaarawy
TIME/LOCATION
TIME: 12pm EST/5pm GMT
PLACE: Olympiastadion Berlin, Berlin, Germany
WHERE TO WATCH
All games in the US the game will be on FOX or FS1, and in Spanish on TUDN, Unvision, and UniMás (as well as streaming Vix Premium). Click here to find your local broadcaster.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
First off, if you haven’t read Lisi’s Round of 16 Preview, get over there and do that because it’s really good. As for this game, with the lineups now posted let’s very briefly discuss what might happen.
After going with a 3-man backline vs Croatia, Spalletti is back to a 4-man backline and while that’s a change with some impact, I actually think and like the other changes he’s made further up the pitch.
In the midfield, gone is Jorginho and in is Cristante and Fagioli. I like this move to add some teeth in the middle of the pitch and I think it’ll allow the wingbacks to get forward because we definitely don’t want them defending more than bombing forward as that’ll play to the their strengths. Moreover, Jorginho wasn’t adding enough value in the offensive buildup to warrant his lack of contribution in other aspects of the game. Fagioli can be your box-to-box or distribute guy and that’ll allow Barella a little more freedom to attack, again playing to his strength.
Up top the most noticeable change is El Shaarawy at left wing. I think this along with Cristante points to the wingbacks getting more involved since El Shaarawy has a wonderful work ethic and will provide cover for those before-mentioned bombing forward wingbacks. Hopefully these changes along with Scamacca actually waking up and doing something will mean the attacking Italy we saw when down vs Albania and then vs Croatia will emerge earlier and provide some much needed offensive umph.
Alright, predictions…I think this works out due to the better balance across the team both in personel and formation. I’m going with a 2-1 win because Italy can’t seem to keep a clean sheet.
Lisi had some things to say about this game in the Round of 16 Preview (link above) but to add he says: Betting thoughts: BTTS +120. Donnarumma saves over 3.5 +250. Italy advances 1-1 on PKs.
Forza Italia. Forza Azzurri.
gillis