Euro 2012 : What Prandelli's Italy Needs Is A Toto Schillaci

Italy created a number of chances against Spain but were let down by poor finishing from strikers, especially Mario Balotelli. This is likely to give Prandelli more headaches in future.

Hosts Italy lined up with in-form strikers Gianluca Vialli and Andrea Carnevale against Austria in their first game in world cup 1990. Despite creating several chances Italy failed to score a goal because of poor finishing. Azeglio Vicini made a desperate gamble on 76th minute, bringing on an obscure striker who had just one good season in Juventus. Salvatore Schillaci made his international debut in that game and two minutes later he became world famous as he popped in with the match winner. For rest of the tournament ai???Totoai??? became a super star. His goals and the trademark celebration with eyes bulging out in exasperation became one of the hallmarks of 1990 World Cup. The Juventus striker scored all types of goals ai??i?? from a spectacular individual strike against Uruguay in second round to a quintessential poacherai??i??s goal against Ireland in quarter-final. He scored in every knock-out game but couldnai??i??t prevent Italy from finishing third. Schillaci, however, was essentially a one tournament wonder. He was unable to replicate this form in Juventus or Internazionale, ending his career in Japan.

Schillaci was hardly the first striker to rise to dizzy heights during an International tournament. The likes of Milan Barros, Mohamed Nagy or Oleg Salenko also didnai??i??t have the most glorious careers but performed out of their skins in a single tournament to end up with golden boot. Cesare Prandelliai??i??s Italy needs someone like Schillaci ai??i?? a player who does not need to turn into a world class player overnight but needs to score a few goals in these few weeks.

Italyai??i??s performance against Spain was somewhat bittersweet. The defenders and central midfielders dished out a performance which was easily the best since Gli Azzuriai??i??s triumph in 2006 but strikers left a lot to be desired.

Antonio Cassano looked lively when he was on the pitch and almost assisted the opening goal, only to see Iker Casillas make a splendid one handed save to deny Thiago Motta. However, Cassano often drifted out wide in order to exploit spaces left behind by Spanish full-backs, leaving Balotelli alone in center. Mario Balotelli is being singled out for a lot of criticism, which is somewhat harsh. He did miss an incredibly easy chance to score a goal, and criminally, chose not to pass to a free Cassano on the same move. However, it must be remembered that it was the Manchester City striker who created that chance all on his own, out-slugging Sergio Ramos for the ball. Balotelli also dropped deep at times and added strength to Italian midfield. Along with Cassano, he is the most talented Italian striker but as always question marks remain on his mentality. A yellow card and a volatile reaction after a tackle in Spanish penalty box wonai??i??t go these questions go away anytime soon.

Antonio Di Natale may have scored a goal against Spain but the 34 year old doesnai??i??t have the legs to play full matches under such tight schedule. Di Natale is a great player to have on the bench, though, as his direct style of play is bound to create problems for opponent teams in later parts of the match. Sebastien Giovinco almost set-up a second goal for Italy with a perfectly weighted chip and he is another wild-card for Prandelli. Problem is he is unlikely to fit into a 3-5-2 as his inability to defend makes him a poor choice on wings in that formation. To play Giovinco, Prandelli has to sacrifice Cassano or Balotelli. Cassanoai??i??s form in first match and his record in qualifers make it difficult to bench him while benching Balotelli for Giovinco means a severe compromise in physicality of attacking line. The Atomic Ant will have to stay on bench should Italy opt to retain the same formation.

It is unlikely that Fabio Borini will get any play time for Italy in Euro 2012, unless there are injuries to main players. The Parma striker had an especially good season during his loan spell in AS Roma, notching up 9 goals in 24 matches. Borini, still 21, is too inexperienced in international level for Prandelli to bank on him.

(c)forzaitalianfootball(dot)com_Antonio-Di-Natale.jpg — Does he have enough gas in the tank to play 90 minutes?

Prandelli does have some options in midfield as well. Antonio Nocerino scored 10 goals for AC Milan last season while Claudio Marchisio got his name on the scoresheet 9 times. Against Spain Marchisio tested Casillas twice, the second one after a delightful run into Spanish penalty box. Alessandro Diamanti found the net 7 times for Bologna as well but he is unlikely to start in Euro 12. Another outside bet for Prandelli is Emmanuel Giaccherini, who has the experience of playing as a second striker for Cesena. He also scored 7 goals for Cesena in his first Serie A season.

In last one and half decade the likes of Italy (2006), France (1998) or Zambia (2012) have won international titles despite not having a single striker scoring for fun. Prandelliai??i??s Italy may have impressed football fans in their opening game but they donai??i??t have the same level of talent (in a relative way) to win a tournament on the dint of goals from midfielders. The ex-Fiorentina coach needs to motivate his strikers and hope that one of them can channel the spirit of Schillaci from Italia 90. Italyai??i??s progress will depend heavily on how clinical their strikers are in next two matches. The Azzurri can hope to grind out results in knock-out rounds but to get past a tough group they need goals. Badly.

Euro 2012 : What Prandelli’s Italy Needs Is A Toto Schillaci

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