Italy struggle to beat Scots
An injury-ravaged Italy team continued their preparations for the upcoming EURO 2016 with a warm-up friendly match against Scotland at Ta’Qali National Stadium yesterday.
Italy won with a Graziano Pelle’ second half goal but failed to impress. Although missing some regulars and experimenting with their line-up, the Italians were technically superior to their opponents but the manner in which they performed yesterday indicates that there is still some more work to do before the their tournament opener against Belgium on 13 June.
Coach Antonio Conte gave some playing time to no less than 17 players from a 30strong squad which we will have to trim down to 23 before the start of the tournament.
While champions Juventus’ defensive block of Buffon, Barzagli, Chiellini and Bonucci gives the Azzurri enough solidity at the back, the absences of their midfield axis Claudio Marchisio and Marco Verratti through injury, is a cause of concern for Conte, who also faces worries about the fitness of both Montolivio and Thiago Motta.
Giaccherini, De Rossi, Florenzi and Candreva formed the four in midfield with Graziano Pelle’ as the main strike and Eder supporting him.
Although possessing more quality than the Scotland team that looked unfamiliar to each other, Italy showed that they miss a man who dictates the tempo from deep positions, in the mould of Andrea Pirlo or Verratti.
Going in as a substitute for the last 20 minutes, Napoli’s Jorginho showed he is capable of doing that for the national team, although he needs more playing time to integrate with his team mates.
After a barren first half, during which Italy enjoyed territorial superiority but only really tested keeper David Marshall with a seventh-minute Candreva free kick, held out by the keeper and again saving on Eder on the rebound, the Italians broke the deadlock short of the hour as Graziano Pelle’ picked a short Eder pass and beat the Scottish keeper with a shot from inside the area.
For Scotland this was the first of two summer friendlies as they meet France in Metz next Saturday. They are certainly a squad with the future in mind, with a host of longstanding figures either rested or unavailable due to other commitments.
The Scots suffered the disappointment of being the only Home Nation not to qualify for the Euros and their coach Gordon Strachan is surely looking for the future, bringing over several uncapped players, one of whom Hearth of Midlothian full back Callum Paterson, who started the match.
Still, Scotland fielded some familiar faces like James McArthur of Crystal Palace, Bournemouth’s Matt Ritchie, Russell Martin of Norwich and captain Darren Fletcher of WBA.
With nothing to lose, Scotland produced a decent defensive game-plan but lacked any offensive qualities. It was only in the 78th minute that Ritchie unsettled the Italian backline for the only time in the match as he ran inside the area but shot narrowly off target.