Struggling Italy chase top spot
HAVING nothing to lose could be Italy’s strong point when they welcome Portugal tomorrow in Milan, looking to claim at least temporary top spot in Group A3 of the Uefa Nations League.
Finishing first to access the tournament’s four-team finals in June is unlikely for the Azzurri as they sit two points behind the European champions, who lead on six points and can secure top spot with a draw in Milan, besides having one more game to play at home to relegated Poland.
The four-time world champions, however, are certain to remain in League A after beating Poland 1-0 last month and this week displayed a bright mood at their Coverciano camp outside Florence.
“We want to continue on the path we began against Ukraine (drawing 1-1 in an October friendly) and Poland, looking to improve mostly on our finishing,” coach Roberto Mancini said.
Playing in Milan seems a way to exorcise the ghosts from last November when a 0-0 draw with Sweden there saw Italy fail to enter the World Cup finals for the first time in 60 years.
The appointment of Mancini in May was a crucial step in a reorganisation that continued in October with the election of Gabriele Gravina, a long-time football official, as president of the domestic federation, following an interim administration.
Despite the effective tactics displayed in recent outings, weakness up front remains an issue, with a negative 7-8 goal difference from the seven games under Mancini, two wins, three draws, two defeats.
“You don’t need physique but good feet,” Napoli’s diminutive winger Lorenzo Insigne said. “And here we have many small guys with good feet. We created a lot in the last two games, but we miss ruthlessness before the goal, including myself.”
Insigne, who has scored seven goals in 12 Serie A games, should play next to youngster Federico Chiesa, but Mancini has lost the versatile Federico Bernardeschi to injury and could consider the powerful Ciro Immobile, on eight league goals for Lazio, as a third attacker.
Captain Giorgio Chellini is set to play his 100th game with La Nazionale, manning the defence next to Juventus teammate Leonardo Bonucci.