Italy to assert self against New Zealand
NELSPRUIT, South Africa (AP) — It’s time for Italy to start playing like the World Cup holders. And it doesn’t matter if the Azzurri will be without their top two players against New Zealand today.
That was the message yesterday from coach Marcello Lippi, who said he’s expecting his squad to play much more smoothly than it did in the opening 1-1 draw with Paraguay five days ago.
“The team has grown under every aspect — physically and psychologically,” Lippi said. “This week has been very productive. We’re ready for this type of game.”
Taking a page from Italy’s title run in 2006, Lippi said the “strength of the group” would be enough to make up for injuries to goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and midfielder Andrea Pirlo.
Buffon was diagnosed with a herniated disk after exiting the Paraguay match at half time and Pirlo likely won’t return from a left calf injury until the Azzurri close out Group F against Slovakia.
“All of our players are extraordinarily important and their careers demonstrate that,” Lippi said. “When a player goes down, the worst thing you can do is go off crying about it. We’re all confident we can get by without them.”
Federico Marchetti of small Serie A side Cagliari will replace Buffon in goal, and Fiorentina captain Riccardo Montolivo will likely play in Pirlo’s place again.
New Zealand drew 1-1 with Slovakia in their opener, and coach Ricki Herbert wasn’t demanding as much as Lippi from his side.
“The group is in a very tight position and whatever the outcome, we are still in with a chance in Round 3,” Herbert said.
Italy’s attack struggled against Paraguay, with the Azzurri needing a second-half equaliSer from midfielder Daniele De Rossi to earn the point. Forwards Vincenzo Iaquinta and Alberto Gilardino hardly saw the ball against the South Americans, and Lippi seems set to switch from a 4-2-3-1 to a more traditional 4-4-2, likely keeping Iaquinta and Gilardino up front.
“The team just needs to stay calm and the goals will come,” Iaquinta said.
Italy knows New Zealand well, having had to come back twice to beat the Kiwis 4-3 in a friendly before last year’s Confederations Cup.
“New Zealand has physical attributes that make them dangerous on headers,” Lippi said. “They’re very tall and the more we keep the ball on the ground and quicker we play the better it will be. We’re going to have to be very attentive on free kicks — the farther we keep them away from our goal the better it will be.”
Winston Reid’s headed equaliser in injury time against Slovakia provided New Zealand with their first World Cup point — since the All Whites lost all three of their games in their only previous appearance in 1982.