Cesare Prandelli hinted he’d switch to a 3-5-2 system against Spain and Gian Piero Gasperini agrees “many of the Azzurri come from clubs with three-man defences.”
Cesare Prandelli hinted he’d switch to a 3-5-2 system against Spain and Gian Piero Gasperini agrees “many of the Azzurri come from clubs with three-man defences.”
It would be moulded on the Scudetto-winning Juventus” data-scaytid=”10″>Juventus side, especially as the back line would be a Bianconeri bloc of Gigi Buffon, Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini.
Christian Maggio and Federico Balzaretti – or another Juve star, Emanuele Giaccherini – therefore move up to the wings where they are allowed to pour forward.
The midfield would remain intact with Daniele De Rossi, Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio, dropping Riccardo Montolivo.
Mario Balotelli retains his spot in attack, but Antonio Di Natale could potentially push past Antonio Cassano in the pecking order.
“I don’t see it being such a difficult transition,” insisted ex-Inter Coach Gasperini in La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Prandelli has at his disposal the best of our football, which means players who are tactically evolved and have experience of all systems.
“I tend to split players up into those who are talented and less talented. The talented ones know how to do everything.
“Besides, many of the Azzurri come from clubs with three-man defences and these are also the teams that brought home the silverware. Just look at Juventus and Napoli, but also Udinese and Parma have been really impressive.
“In my view the change would not be as traumatic as some suggest. Italy have barely played together this year, so it’s not as if they are locked into a tactical philosophy.”