Cesare Prandelli looks ahead to Euro 2012 with an Antonio Di Natale-Mario Balotelli partnership and “Antonio Cassano could come as our 24th man.”
Cesare Prandelli looks ahead to Euro 2012 with an Antonio Di Natale-Mario Balotelli partnership and “Antonio Cassano could come as our 24th man.”
The Coach has to revamp his squad for the tournament, as first choice strikers Giuseppe Rossi and Cassano race against time to recover from knee and heart surgery respectively.
“I have told both that I’m ready to wait for them until the last minute of the last day,” Prandelli told Sky Sport Italia.
“I will go to Spain to check up on Pepito’s progress. I spoke for a long time with Antonio and we exchanged more than a few promises.
“We haven’t even ruled out that he could come as our 24th man, seeing as he made such a decisive contribution to our qualification.”
In the meantime, the tactician has to find players who can start at Euro 2012 and he is considering a new ‘odd couple’ to be tested in a friendly against USA.
“Di Natale and Balotelli complete each other. As for Francesco Totti, I’ll keep him in mind. I’d like to praise Daniele De Rossi for his decision to stay in Italy and at Roma.”
Prandelli also confirmed he has no intention of staying on the Italy bench past the 2014 World Cup.
“I have another two years left on my contract, but I do feel that desire to get back to working at a club. Abroad? Yes, that is an option I’d take into consideration.”