BACKGROUND
Italy hope to build on the excellent form of their strikers and win their second match in a row when they host Yugoslavia on Saturday evening in Naples. Dejan Savicevic's side will make their debut in the Euro 2004 qualifying round, while the Azzurri grabbed an easy 2-0 away win against Azerbaijan in their opening match.
The hosts are trying to pick up the pieces of a shattered dream after their controversial exit in last summer's World Cup. Coach Giovanni Trapattoni is under immense pressure, widely criticized by the media and fans alike for his overtly defensive-minded approach.
This criticism appears to have finally convinced the veteran trainer to change his mind. On Wednesday, Trapattoni tested a 3-5-2 lineup with defenders Oddo and Zauri on the wings, but the reaction of the Italian media convinced him to change everything the day after, when he fielded a more offensive 3-4-1-2 lineup, which features Pirlo as the holding playmaker and Doni in front of him, in the hole behind the offensive duo Inzaghi-Del Piero.
The guests are amidst a transition period. After failing to qualify for the 2002 World Cup, Yugoslavia slipped in 20th place in the FIFA World ranking. Following this failure, the task of rebuilding this former giant was given to the legendary Dejan Savicevic.
The former Milan player has been trying to analyze the potential of his nation's youth and figure out who the young players are that he can count on for the immediate future. Meanwhile, he continues to count on veterans such as Mijatovic, Mihajlovic and Milosevic. Taking into account Yugoslavia's latest outing, a humiliating 5-0 defeat against Czech Republic, the job for Savicevic seems quite tough.
TEAM NEWS
In addition to long-term sidelined Juventus winger Zambrotta, Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni will miss four influential regulars like Roma skipper Francesco Totti, who is bothered by two different injuries, and Inter's Coco, Di Biagio and Vieri. The veteran trainer is expected to field a 3-4-1-2 lineup, with Doni behind Del Piero and Inzaghi. Andrea Pirlo will be the playmaker in a midfield line that will include his teammates Gattuso and Ambrosini. Atalanta defender Luciano Zauri will make his debut with Italy's jersey.
Yugoslavia coach Dejan Savicevic is expected to recover defender Zoran Mirkovic, who suffers a light muscular injury. The former Milan player should field a quite offensive-minded starting eleven, with Mijatovic behind the offensive duo Kovacevic-Kezman. Chievo winger Lazetic should also be in the regular lineup.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
ITALY (3-4-1-2): Buffon; Panucci, Nesta, Cannavaro; Gattuso, Pirlo, Tommasi, Zauri; Doni; Inzaghi, Del Piero
YUGOSLAVIA (4-3-1-2): Jevric; Mirkovic, Kristajc, Mihajlovic, Stefanovic; Lazetic, Stankovic, Dragutinovic; Mijatovic; Kovacevic, Kezman
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Italy : Filippo Inzaghi. There's not much to say about a man who scored 15 goals in 9 official matches. Everything is going the right way for Superpippo, who is as healthy and confident as he's never been before. This is undoubtedly the best moment of his career.
Yugoslavia : Dejan Stankovic . Most likely, the Lazio midfielder is the most talented player Yugoslavia has produced in the last years. Both Dejan Savicevic and Lazio coach Roberto Mancini strongly believe in his skills and made him a point of reference of the respective midfields.
SOCCERAGE PREDICTION
Trapattoni will miss a couple of superstars like Totti and Vieri, but the adding of Pirlo and Doni will finally give Italy the imagination and unpredictability they missed so far. Inzaghi and Del Piero are flying, and I can't see the guests' defence stopping them. Yugoslavia will have to be a totally different team compared to the one who was demolished by Czech Republic a few weeks ago, otherwise this match will turn into a goal party for the Azzurri. Most likely it won't be easy at all, but the hosts should manage to grab the three points.
Italy 3 Yugoslavia 1
Italy hope to build on the excellent form of their strikers and win their second match in a row when they host Yugoslavia on Saturday evening in Naples. Dejan Savicevic's side will make their debut in the Euro 2004 qualifying round, while the Azzurri grabbed an easy 2-0 away win against Azerbaijan in their opening match.
The hosts are trying to pick up the pieces of a shattered dream after their controversial exit in last summer's World Cup. Coach Giovanni Trapattoni is under immense pressure, widely criticized by the media and fans alike for his overtly defensive-minded approach.
This criticism appears to have finally convinced the veteran trainer to change his mind. On Wednesday, Trapattoni tested a 3-5-2 lineup with defenders Oddo and Zauri on the wings, but the reaction of the Italian media convinced him to change everything the day after, when he fielded a more offensive 3-4-1-2 lineup, which features Pirlo as the holding playmaker and Doni in front of him, in the hole behind the offensive duo Inzaghi-Del Piero.
The guests are amidst a transition period. After failing to qualify for the 2002 World Cup, Yugoslavia slipped in 20th place in the FIFA World ranking. Following this failure, the task of rebuilding this former giant was given to the legendary Dejan Savicevic.
The former Milan player has been trying to analyze the potential of his nation's youth and figure out who the young players are that he can count on for the immediate future. Meanwhile, he continues to count on veterans such as Mijatovic, Mihajlovic and Milosevic. Taking into account Yugoslavia's latest outing, a humiliating 5-0 defeat against Czech Republic, the job for Savicevic seems quite tough.
TEAM NEWS
In addition to long-term sidelined Juventus winger Zambrotta, Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni will miss four influential regulars like Roma skipper Francesco Totti, who is bothered by two different injuries, and Inter's Coco, Di Biagio and Vieri. The veteran trainer is expected to field a 3-4-1-2 lineup, with Doni behind Del Piero and Inzaghi. Andrea Pirlo will be the playmaker in a midfield line that will include his teammates Gattuso and Ambrosini. Atalanta defender Luciano Zauri will make his debut with Italy's jersey.
Yugoslavia coach Dejan Savicevic is expected to recover defender Zoran Mirkovic, who suffers a light muscular injury. The former Milan player should field a quite offensive-minded starting eleven, with Mijatovic behind the offensive duo Kovacevic-Kezman. Chievo winger Lazetic should also be in the regular lineup.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
ITALY (3-4-1-2): Buffon; Panucci, Nesta, Cannavaro; Gattuso, Pirlo, Tommasi, Zauri; Doni; Inzaghi, Del Piero
YUGOSLAVIA (4-3-1-2): Jevric; Mirkovic, Kristajc, Mihajlovic, Stefanovic; Lazetic, Stankovic, Dragutinovic; Mijatovic; Kovacevic, Kezman
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Italy : Filippo Inzaghi. There's not much to say about a man who scored 15 goals in 9 official matches. Everything is going the right way for Superpippo, who is as healthy and confident as he's never been before. This is undoubtedly the best moment of his career.
Yugoslavia : Dejan Stankovic . Most likely, the Lazio midfielder is the most talented player Yugoslavia has produced in the last years. Both Dejan Savicevic and Lazio coach Roberto Mancini strongly believe in his skills and made him a point of reference of the respective midfields.
SOCCERAGE PREDICTION
Trapattoni will miss a couple of superstars like Totti and Vieri, but the adding of Pirlo and Doni will finally give Italy the imagination and unpredictability they missed so far. Inzaghi and Del Piero are flying, and I can't see the guests' defence stopping them. Yugoslavia will have to be a totally different team compared to the one who was demolished by Czech Republic a few weeks ago, otherwise this match will turn into a goal party for the Azzurri. Most likely it won't be easy at all, but the hosts should manage to grab the three points.
Italy 3 Yugoslavia 1
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