England gets ready for Italian job
Source: AFP |
June 23, 2012, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
ENGLAND will attempt to reach the last four of a major tournament for the first time in 16 years tomorrow as it faces Italy in a heavyweight Euro 2012 quarterfinal collision.
The burgeoning confidence within Roy Hodgson's youthful squad is tempered by the knowledge that England has rarely progressed beyond the last eight of major tournaments, with three quarterfinal exits in the past 10 years alone.
But after winning Group D ahead of highly-rated France and extending its unbeaten run to five games under Hodgson, England head into the game in Kiev with a mounting sense of belief that it can prolong its stay in the tournament.
"If we can go about the job in the way we are doing at the moment we will make a game of it and who knows what will happen," Hodgson said.
A potential headache for Hodgson is that no fewer than five key players are walking a disciplinary tightrope heading into the match.
Steven Gerrard, Ashley Cole, Ashley Young, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all just one booking away from missing a potential semifinal against either Germany or Greece.
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli meanwhile has been forced to reshuffle his defense following the injury to rugged center-back Giorgio Chiellini, who is likely to be replaced by Leonardo Bonucci.
Prandelli is wary of an England side which he believes has found the "right equilibrium" while maintaining the Azzurri have nothing to fear.
"We all know the English character, they never hold anything back but they also have some good creative players," he said.
The burgeoning confidence within Roy Hodgson's youthful squad is tempered by the knowledge that England has rarely progressed beyond the last eight of major tournaments, with three quarterfinal exits in the past 10 years alone.
But after winning Group D ahead of highly-rated France and extending its unbeaten run to five games under Hodgson, England head into the game in Kiev with a mounting sense of belief that it can prolong its stay in the tournament.
"If we can go about the job in the way we are doing at the moment we will make a game of it and who knows what will happen," Hodgson said.
A potential headache for Hodgson is that no fewer than five key players are walking a disciplinary tightrope heading into the match.
Steven Gerrard, Ashley Cole, Ashley Young, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all just one booking away from missing a potential semifinal against either Germany or Greece.
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli meanwhile has been forced to reshuffle his defense following the injury to rugged center-back Giorgio Chiellini, who is likely to be replaced by Leonardo Bonucci.
Prandelli is wary of an England side which he believes has found the "right equilibrium" while maintaining the Azzurri have nothing to fear.
"We all know the English character, they never hold anything back but they also have some good creative players," he said.
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