Paraguay exposes Italy limitations in drawn tie
Source: Agencies |
June 16, 2010, Wednesday
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HOLDERS Italy were gifted a goal and a lifeline in their 1-1 Group F draw with Paraguay on Monday where they again took their slow starter tag to extremes.
The game was even, with Paraguay arguably deserving its point despite some late Italy pressure, against world champions only in name not stature.
The South Americans were robbed of a famous victory by some kamikaze keeping from Justo Villar, who inexplicably missed the ball with his punch from a corner to allow Daniele De Rossi to poke in the 63rd minute equalizer.
Paraguay's opener was also due to frailties at the back, in fact at the very heart of Italy's team.
Fabio Cannavaro, Italy's most capped player with 134 appearances, is half the center back he was four years ago but coach Marcello Lippi sticks by him just as he does with other World Cup winners.
At 36, Cannavaro has lost pace and positional sense but the continual problem of his lack of height almost cost Italy dear.
The captain, set for a comfortable semi-retirement in Dubai after the tournament, did not even jump for the ball as Paraguay's Antolin Alcaraz made it 1-0 on 39 minutes by planting a perfect header which goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon could do nothing about.
The injury-prone goalkeeper was also substituted with a knock at halftime, a development which will worry Lippi given the inexperience of deputy Federico Marchetti.
Italy started brightly in the Cape Town downpour but clear-cut chances were rare in the first hour with the strikers leaving the shooting to the midfielders.
Right-footed Vincenzo Iaquinta was completely lost on the left of midfield and Alberto Gilardino often became isolated up front alone.
The result though can not really be blamed on the absence of midfielder and 2006 hero Andrea Pirlo, who hopes to be back from a calf problem soon.
Riccardo Montolivo played in place of Pirlo and pushed forward much more than his more illustrious teammate ever does.
Lippi preferred Simone Pepe to Antonio Di Natale out wide despite the latter being Serie A top scorer last season. But Pepe had some sniffs on Monday and may keep his place.
Di Natale came on and at least Italy did really push for a win with a partial switch to 4-4-2 from the fitful 4-2-3-1 offering more width and more food for thought for Lippi.
But such is Italy's lack of confidence that no risks can be taken and victory against New Zealand in its next group game in Nelspruit on June 20 is by no means a given with this side.
Paraguay was not wonderful - it did not need to be. It has a precious draw and can look forward to supposedly easier games against Slovakia and New Zealand. It took its chance when it came and even posed several more threats while being dogged in defence.
The game was even, with Paraguay arguably deserving its point despite some late Italy pressure, against world champions only in name not stature.
The South Americans were robbed of a famous victory by some kamikaze keeping from Justo Villar, who inexplicably missed the ball with his punch from a corner to allow Daniele De Rossi to poke in the 63rd minute equalizer.
Paraguay's opener was also due to frailties at the back, in fact at the very heart of Italy's team.
Fabio Cannavaro, Italy's most capped player with 134 appearances, is half the center back he was four years ago but coach Marcello Lippi sticks by him just as he does with other World Cup winners.
At 36, Cannavaro has lost pace and positional sense but the continual problem of his lack of height almost cost Italy dear.
The captain, set for a comfortable semi-retirement in Dubai after the tournament, did not even jump for the ball as Paraguay's Antolin Alcaraz made it 1-0 on 39 minutes by planting a perfect header which goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon could do nothing about.
The injury-prone goalkeeper was also substituted with a knock at halftime, a development which will worry Lippi given the inexperience of deputy Federico Marchetti.
Italy started brightly in the Cape Town downpour but clear-cut chances were rare in the first hour with the strikers leaving the shooting to the midfielders.
Right-footed Vincenzo Iaquinta was completely lost on the left of midfield and Alberto Gilardino often became isolated up front alone.
The result though can not really be blamed on the absence of midfielder and 2006 hero Andrea Pirlo, who hopes to be back from a calf problem soon.
Riccardo Montolivo played in place of Pirlo and pushed forward much more than his more illustrious teammate ever does.
Lippi preferred Simone Pepe to Antonio Di Natale out wide despite the latter being Serie A top scorer last season. But Pepe had some sniffs on Monday and may keep his place.
Di Natale came on and at least Italy did really push for a win with a partial switch to 4-4-2 from the fitful 4-2-3-1 offering more width and more food for thought for Lippi.
But such is Italy's lack of confidence that no risks can be taken and victory against New Zealand in its next group game in Nelspruit on June 20 is by no means a given with this side.
Paraguay was not wonderful - it did not need to be. It has a precious draw and can look forward to supposedly easier games against Slovakia and New Zealand. It took its chance when it came and even posed several more threats while being dogged in defence.
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