By Dr Paul: For a team who created the catenaccio style of defending, it was Italy’s opponents Paraguay who turned in a dogged, disciplined performance in the opening game of Group F.
The Azzuri, playing an uncharacteristically attacking 4-3-3 formation, started off all guns blazing -Fiorentina’s Montolivio was pulling the strings in the middle of the park, and full backs Zambrotta and Criscito were finding plenty of room down the flanks. Udinese’s Simone Pepe was an industrious figure on the right side of the forward line, and Gilardino and Iaquinta were lively in the opening stages.
At the back, talismanic captain Fabio Cannavaro looked to be back to his best, and in the opening half an hour Paraguay found it difficult to keep possession and played almost exclusively in their own half. For an Italian team to press so high up the pitch and really attack their opponents so early in the competition is almost unheard of. In fact, after watching the disappointing Holland v Denmark, Japan v Cameroon matches, it was refreshing to see such an attacking formation actually attacking and striving for a victory (as opposed to a 4-3-3 formation quickly turning into a more defensive 4-5-1).
It was interesting to note that Paraguay’s two best known attacking players – Roque Santa Cruz and Oscar Cardozo – came on in the second half, which seemed to suggest that a more aggressive, stifling gameplan was at the forefront of coach Gerardo Martino’s mind. It worked. On 39 minutes, Giorgio Chiellini conceded a free kick and, from an excellent delivery by Aureliano Torres, Alcarez stole into the danger zone to send a header past the stranded Buffon. This took the wind out of the Azzuri’s sails – buoyed by their goal, Paraguay’s midfield started to gain the upper hand, and the previously bright and industrious trio of De Rossi, Marchisio and Montolivio faded dramatically. This pattern continued throughout the second half, with Paraguay stifling any semblance of Italian pressure and looking fairly comfortable. Italy, still playing at a high tempo, huffed and puffed but didn’t create any clear-cut chances, instead opting to shoot from distance.
Gilardino
By the time the equaliser came Camoranesi and Di Natale (a surprise exclusion) were on the field as substitutes. Gaining extra confidence from their equaliser, Italy were back on top. Pepe had switched wings and was seeing a lot of the ball (although his distribution didn’t match his industry), while Montolivio started to come back into the game.
So the opening match in Group F finished as a draw. Italy will feel they should have won it, but in truth they did not create, despite an attacking performance and some lively patches, any real chances. With Pirlo waiting in the wings, and Di Natale (who scored a bucketful for Udinese in Serie A this season) surely meriting a start, Italy will want to work on turning possession into chance before their next game against the Kiwis.