Balzaretti pumped up for Italy

Federico Balzaretti can’t wait to take to the field in tonight’s crucial Euro 2012 game between Italy and the Republic of Ireland.

The Azzurri need a victory against Giovanni Trapattoni’s men and hope that the result in the Spain-Croatia game goes their way.

Federico Balzaretti can’t wait to take to the field in tonight’s crucial Euro 2012 game between Italy and the Republic of Ireland.

The Azzurri need a victory against Giovanni Trapattoni’s men and hope that the result in the Spain-Croatia game goes their way.

“Tonight’s game is the kind of encounter that everybody would like to play in,” the Palermo stopper noted.

“It’s a tie that you start with the knowledge that only a victory will do and that charges you up for the encounter.”

Balzaretti is expected to be brought into the team at left-back given the belief that boss Cesare Prandelli will replace his 3-5-2 system with a 4-3-1-2.

However, the Azzurri know that a victory this evening may still not be enough given the possible outcomes of the other Group C game.

“We have to just think about winning in the hope that the other result favours us,” continued the Italian.

“If we start worrying about how the Spain-Croatia game is going during our own tie then we run the risk of losing our focus.”