England, Italy meet again
England and Italy meet again in Bern on Wednesday, just 52 days after Roy Hodgson’s side exited Euro 2012 following a penalty shoot-out defeat to the Azzurri in the quarterfinals in Kiev.
But this rematch, which also comes just three days before the start of the new Premier League season, is not about revenge.
Instead, England is looking to the future, with Hodgson taking an inexperienced squad with him for the encounter at the Stade de Suisse in the Swiss capital.
Wayne Rooney and captain Steven Gerrard were among the senior players left out for the game, along with centerback John Terry, who was free to play despite being charged by the Football Association for using racially abusive language during a clash with Queens Park Rangers’ Anton Ferdinand at Loftus Road last year.
With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and goalkeeper Joe Hart also pulling out because of injuries, only three of those who started against Italy on June 24 are in the squad this time.
There are four members of the Team GB Olympic team, and while they — like England this summer — suffered a quarterfinal defeat on penalties, Hodgson will hope the quartet of Jack Butland, Ryan Bertrand, Steven Caulker and Tom Cleverley can bring some of the post-Games feel-good factor.
“I’d love to tap into the whole Olympic atmosphere,” Hodgson said. “I’ve been really impressed by our athletes in how they have won medals and embraced their victory.”
Italy’s performance at Euro 2012 gave it great hope for the future, even if Cesare Prandelli’s side was taught something of a lesson in a 4-0 final defeat to Spain.
The Azzurri, who will take to the field in Bern in a shirt commemorating their 1982 World Cup triumph, will also field a largely experimental side.
No Juventus or Napoli players are in the squad because of their involvement in the Italian Supercup, played in China at the weekend, while Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli will miss the game because of conjunctivitis. His place has been taken by Udinese’s Diego Fabbrini, who is one of a host of new faces hoping to make an impact.