Italy are without Andrea Pirlo and any true wide players, which has dictated their team selection for their Euro 2012 qualifying match, away to their neighbors Slovenia. Prandelli has opted to re-unite the strike partnership of Giampaolo Pazzini and Antonio Cassano up top, and it looks like Stefano Mauri will be playing behind them in a 4-3-1-2 lineup. Making up a band of three central midfielders behind Mauri is Alberto Aquilani, Thiago Motta, and Ricardo Montolivo.
Italy Vs. Slovenia, Euro 2012 Qualifying: Lineups And Analysis
Slovenia are lining up as expected, in their very rigid and organized 4-4-2. Milivoje Novaković will be a handful for Italy up top, and he’s partnered by the smaller Zlatko Dedic. Valter Birsa will be Slovenia’s biggest midfield weapon out on the wing, while Robert Koren is no pushover. Their defense is unspectacular, but without holes, and they will be very difficult for an Italy side lacking wide play and Andrea Pirlo to crack.
Slovenia lineup (Projected 4-4-2): Handanovic; Brecko, Cesar, Suler, Jokic; Birsa, Koren, Radosavljevic, Kirm; Dedic, Novakovic
Italy lineup (Projected 4-3-1-2): Buffon; Maggio, Bonucci, Chiellini, Balzaretti; Aquilani, Thiago Motta, Montolivo; Mauri; Pazzini, Cassano
See More:
