Italy

HAPPY DESPITE LOSS

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The Italian national team manager Cesare Prandelli has said that he is extremely happy with the performance of his players in the recent friendly match against England. Italy lost in the match 2-1, but the national team manager has said that he cannot fault the performance put in by his players. This was a rematch of the Euro 2012 quarter-finals, in which Italy came out on the successful side after having won the match on penalties. This time around, they could not repeat the same performance, as they went down to the third placed team in world football.

The Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi opened the scoring for the Italians, but they were unable to prevent Jermain Defoe and Phil Jagielka from helping England win the match by coming back from behind. After the match, Prandelli has said that he is not worried about the result of the encounter. He, however, is looking for a much better performance from his players, which he got in this match. As a result, he is more than satisfied with his current team, which will be soon playing in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Italy are in the same group containing the likes of Bulgaria.

“We showed character and we have to continue along this path. I really liked our performance. Defeats are still defeats, also in friendlies, but I saw plenty of positives. This was a useful game as we’re preparing for the World Cup qualifiers. It is important to gain an insight into which young players have the quality to play for the national team already,” said Prandelli after the match. The Italian national team manager Prandelli has received a lot of praise for getting the national team to the finals of the Euro 2012, although they lost badly in the match.

ITALY WOULD COMPETE

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The Italian national team manager Cesare Prandelli has said that the team would have been able to compete with Spain on any even basis in the final of the Euro 2012 if they had proper rest prior to the match. Italy were the surprise package of the tournament after making it into the finals. However, they lost the match badly 4-0 to Spain in one of the most one-sided finals in recent times. Even though Italy were performing extremely well up until the point, they could not match the passing game of Spain. There have also been suggestions that Italy were tired during the match after having made no great changes throughout the tournament.

After having won the Euro 2012, Spain have become the first national team to have lifted three major titles in succession. They have now won the Euro 2008, 2010 FIFA World Cup, and the Euro 2012. They are once again the favourites to win the FIFA World Cup 2014 that will take place in Brazil. Italy came into the tournament on the back of numerous injury problems, but they have done extremely well in the tournament according to Prandelli, who has received glowing praise from Italy for his contribution.

“They made history and deservedly – they have a lot of players who are tried and tested at this level and even though they don’t play with a classic striker they certainly cause you plenty of problems. We played against them in the group stage and I thought we were excellent in that first game because we were 100 percent fit. Against a team like Spain I think you really need to be good in tackle and above all fit, they totally dominated this evening and we have to congratulate a great side for their victory,” said Prandelli.