Italy and Venezuela will clash at the Chase Stadium, with summer tournaments on their mind.
European champions Italy will be seeking to defend their crown later this summer and will aim to fine-tune their preparations for the tournament starting with the friendly against Venezuela in Florida on Thursday.
Luciano Spalletti pulled off the improbable by leading Napoli to the Serie A title last season and will now hope to write his name into Italian footballing folklore by leading them to a second straight continental triumph. Having failed to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, the Azzurri need to make amends to salvage their reputation.
Italy also failed to make easy work of qualifying for this summer’s Euros. However, a draw against Ukraine in Leverkusen sealed their spot in Germany. Chasing a third continental crown, Spalletti will certainly need to line his ducks upright.
With twin friendlies against Venezuela and Ecuador up next, the Italian boss will aim to experiment and iron out chinks in his side’s armour. With just four matches left before the champions kick off their tournament proper, every game matters.
Venezuela have suffered just one defeat in their last six fixtures, against Colombia in December in what was a match that was scheduled outside a FIFA-sanctioned window. They are currently sitting in fourth place in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers and are also looking forward to leaving a mark in this summer’s Copa America.
Fernando Batista’s side have lost just two of their last 14 matches, also managing to draw against Brazil last year. Italy will prove to be a formidable opponent but given the European side’s need to experiment, an upset could very well be on the cards.
Matches with higher stakes await both sides at the end of the season. For now, it is an opportunity for them to take a look at their roster and make preliminary plans concerning personnel and tactics. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up for the game and their tactics.
Team News & Tactics
Italy
Luciano Spalletti has already confirmed that he will be taking a look at players and will monitor some of the nation’s rising stars on the night. Lazio skipper and veteran striker Ciro Immobile was left behind in Europe as the Azzurri negotiate a rather inexperienced squad. Leaving behind Gianluca Scamacca and Domenico Berardi further emphasises Spalletti’s plans for the trip across the Atlantic.
Another veteran, Francesco Acerbi was withdrawn from the roster following an unsavoury incident involving Juan Jesus. The Inter Milan star was replaced by Gianluca Mancini, while Bryan Cristante misses out due to injury. Gianluigi Donnarumma is the most experienced player on the roster with 60 caps for Italy. He will hope to rally around those around him as they aim to make a claim for a spot in Germany.
Several new faces are on the radar such as Andrea Cambiaso, Raoul Bellanova, Michael Folorunsho, all of whom are impressive this season. Donnarumma could also be benched in favour of Atalanta’s Marco Carnesecchi or Tottenham Hotpsur’s Guglielmo Vicario, both of whom are enjoying standout seasons for their respective clubs.
Spalletti is likely to go with the 4-3-3 formation that earned him rave reviews in Naples. Gianluigi Donnarumma is expected to start in goal behind the back four of Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Giorgio Scalvini, Alessandro Bastoni and Destiny Udogie. Di Lorenzo and Udogie’s ability to push forward can also aid Italy in playing a 3-5-2 if needed, with Jorginho dropping deeper.
The midfield is where the European giants’ strength lies with Nicolo Barella, Jorginho and Lorenzo Pellegrini expected to form a tight trio. The front three is likely to be led by Giacomo Raspadori, with Federico Chiesa and Riccardo Orsolini providing the width.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Scalvini, Bastoni, Udogie; Barella, Jorginho, Pellegrini; Orsolini, Raspadori, Chiesa
Venezuela
The South Americans also failed to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar but find themselves with a reasonable shot of making the showpiece event in 2026. Having experienced a mere two defeats in their last 14 games, Fernando Batista’s men will not be short of belief.
Set to face off against Ecuador, Mexico and Jamaica in the Copa America later this summer, Batista and Co. will be aiming to fine-tune their preparations. Getting the better of the reigning European champions even if they are not at full strength will certainly be a confidence booster.
It’s unfortunate for Venezuela to miss key players like Yeferson Soteldo and Yangel Herrera.But having Salomon Rondon available to lead the attack provides a significant boost. Rondon’s form at Pachuca has been impressive, and his experience will be invaluable in guiding the team.
Tomas Rincon’s presence as the captain adds stability and leadership to the squad. With his vast experience, he is a crucial figure for Venezuela, and his 131st cap would be a testament to his long-standing commitment to the national team.
The inclusion of Philadelphia Union duo Jose Martinez and Jesus Bueno offers an opportunity for fresh talent to shine. Bueno, in particular, will be eager to make his senior debut and make a positive impression on the team. Their contributions could be vital as Venezuela looks to put forth a competitive performance and build momentum towards the summer.
Rafael Romo should start in goal behind the back four of Alexander Gonzalez, Yordan Osorio, Wilker Angel, and Miguel Navarro. Jefferson Savarino and Jhon Murillo should provide the width with Cristian Casseres and Tomas Rincon occupying the central midfield. Darwin Machis and Salomon Rondon should lead the line upfront.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Romo; Gonzalez, Osorio, Angel, Navarro; Savarino, Casseres, Rincon, Murillo; Machis, Rondon
Key Stats
- Neither Italy nor Venezuela qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
- Italy have won both their previous encounters against Venezuela.
- Venezuela has not scored against Italy in their previous encounters.
- Venezuela have lost just two of their last 14 international matches.
- Both teams have won three, drawn one and lost one of their last five international games.
Player to Watch
Federico Chiesa
The Juventus star was the standout player in Italy’s Euro 20202 triumph and will be keen to make a similar impact this year as well. Injuries have largely nullified his impact in recent years, but Chiesa continues to make a difference for Juventus when given the opportunity.
The 26-year-old is in his prime and will hope to solidify his spot in the Italian XI going into the summer. A strong showing in North America should more or less see him secure a spot in the summer’s roster bar injury.
Prediction
Italy 1-1 Venezuela
Italy have never lost to Venezuela but given their propensity to experiment with both personnel and tactics, they could be there for the taking. The South Americans are likely to go in at full strength and have a more-settled XI while also playing in more familiar surroundings.
The Europeans could find themselves exposed on the break and how well they can retain possession on the night could dictate how the game turns out. The Hard Tackle predicts a 1-1 draw between Italy and Venezuela.