Prandelli wants Italy to handle pressure
Source: AFP |
June 12, 2012, Tuesday
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Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said his team needs to keep cool heads when it is under pressure late on in a game.
Italy earned a creditable 1-1 draw with European and world champion Spain in its opening Group C match at the European Championship.
After having the better of the first half the Italians came under increasing pressure in the second period and at times late on were hanging on by the skin of their teeth.
They took a 61st-minute lead through Antonio Di Natale before Cesc Fabregas equalized for Spain just three minutes later. But towards the end of the game they were allowing the Spaniards chances at an alarming rate.
And it is then that Prandelli said he needs cool heads.
'When you're struggling to get hold of the ball you have to be compact and you need reason not anger,' he said.
'When you're tired, those who play with anger get in trouble.'
Italy is unlikely to face as stern a challenge in its next two group games against Croatia and then Ireland but the coach believes it can still improve.
But mostly, after his players worked so hard against Spain, he wants them to recover physically before they play Croatia, who opened their campaign with a 3-1 win over Ireland, in Poznan on June 14.
'We still have a lot of work to do, we'll analyze this game, every game has its individual story and you need to prepare for it in a certain way,' he said.
'I hope we get all our players back to 100 percent.'
Caused a stir
Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque caused a stir by announcing a starting line-up without a recognized forward.
However, Spain did look more dangerous once Fernando Torres had joined the fray in place of Fabregas.
But Torres, who had a torrid time at Chelsea last season, insisted that his mistakes were not due to a lack of confidence and were simply part of football.
'In the first chance (Buffon) was more ready than me, he touched it (the ball) with his heel, we see that on the replay, but that's football,' said Torres.
'It's unfortunate and we all feel it inside but we hope next time it will go in.'
Although he was hoping to start, Torres insisted he was just happy to have got some game-time.
'I'm happy for this moment. I felt good and I hope that I'll play in the next game so that I can do what the boss asks of me and that I can score my first goal in this Euros.'
Italy earned a creditable 1-1 draw with European and world champion Spain in its opening Group C match at the European Championship.
After having the better of the first half the Italians came under increasing pressure in the second period and at times late on were hanging on by the skin of their teeth.
They took a 61st-minute lead through Antonio Di Natale before Cesc Fabregas equalized for Spain just three minutes later. But towards the end of the game they were allowing the Spaniards chances at an alarming rate.
And it is then that Prandelli said he needs cool heads.
'When you're struggling to get hold of the ball you have to be compact and you need reason not anger,' he said.
'When you're tired, those who play with anger get in trouble.'
Italy is unlikely to face as stern a challenge in its next two group games against Croatia and then Ireland but the coach believes it can still improve.
But mostly, after his players worked so hard against Spain, he wants them to recover physically before they play Croatia, who opened their campaign with a 3-1 win over Ireland, in Poznan on June 14.
'We still have a lot of work to do, we'll analyze this game, every game has its individual story and you need to prepare for it in a certain way,' he said.
'I hope we get all our players back to 100 percent.'
Caused a stir
Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque caused a stir by announcing a starting line-up without a recognized forward.
However, Spain did look more dangerous once Fernando Torres had joined the fray in place of Fabregas.
But Torres, who had a torrid time at Chelsea last season, insisted that his mistakes were not due to a lack of confidence and were simply part of football.
'In the first chance (Buffon) was more ready than me, he touched it (the ball) with his heel, we see that on the replay, but that's football,' said Torres.
'It's unfortunate and we all feel it inside but we hope next time it will go in.'
Although he was hoping to start, Torres insisted he was just happy to have got some game-time.
'I'm happy for this moment. I felt good and I hope that I'll play in the next game so that I can do what the boss asks of me and that I can score my first goal in this Euros.'
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