Winning a football game is not about stopping the opponent actually, it is about winning the game simply. Let us define win while we're at it, to win a football game means you have to score more goals than your opponent and that's about it.
I am not going to talk about the defensive line now because it is not the issue and the defensive line does not win you the game solely it is just a part of the equation but I'll get back to that later.
In normal conditions where the sun is shining, the players are happy, fresh and have a lot in their legs we have had a lot of trouble creating chances and threatening our opponents with the straight 4-4-2. In such conditions we relied all the time on a Nedved moment of brilliance, a Del Piero touch of magic, a loose ball reaching Trezeguet or a hyper Iaquinta coming in late where the opponents are tired. These were the only ways we scored galls, these were the only ways we put the ball away in the opponent's net. Nothing coming from the midfield (except from Nedved or Camoranesi who has rarely played anyway).
During these normal conditions our defenders along with the two poles did well to cover for the absence of ideas and the ineptness of some players, the defenders were on top form namely Chiellini and Legrottaglie, to some extent Zebina as well. These are not here now and we have to do with Boumsong and Grygera.
During the normal, conditions because our defenders are not world class or lack experience in top games it was Gigi who saved us but in the end, in the very end it all went to our main four men to bring in the games, these four men are in random order Del Piero, Nedved, Iaquinta and Trezeguet.
Now let us work down the game at hand. How can we take the victory? By stopping our opponents? By helping the defenders? Why?
I have a big question here, why should we field more clueless midfielders (Palladino and Salihamidzic) to help the defenders whose job is to actually stop the opponent from scoring instead of using more players to help the forwards net balls in?
I know one answer to that question and it is to "create balance"
I have to disagree with Azzurri7 here and say it really does recquire calculations at this moment in time. You create balance when you have a balanced ship so it will not sink, but when the back of the ship has already started sinking, you simply leave it and go all the way to the front.
Unfortunately this is our situation, we don't have a back and we should put all the weight up top. Field as many forwards and men that can score as possible and keep the ball in the opponent's field. Strangle them with man power!
I really have no idea who are the defenders that can play tomorrow but this is how I would play:
Buffon
Grygera Birindelli (Some CB) Salihamidzic
Zanetti
Marchionni Nedved
Iaquinta Trezeguet Del Piero