NATAL, Brazil: Italy must find a way to shut down Uruguay striker Luis Suarez when the teams clash at the Dunas Arena today in a World Cup showdown which will decide who goes through to the last 16.
Uruguay, semi-finalists four years ago, will arrive in Natal on an almighty high after Suarez’s double strike beat England and eased the pain of their opening 3-1 loss to Costa Rica - a match their totemic striker missed as he recovered his fitness.
Italy also lost to Costa Rica by 1-0 but their opening victory over England means the four-times World Cup winners need a point from the fixture, while twice champions Uruguay must win because of their inferior goal difference.
If there was any team you would back to shackle a goalscoring phenomenon, it would probably be Italy but they will need to be at their miserly best at the back to deny Suarez and his strike partner Edinson Cavani.
“They are a very strong combination in attack,” Italy captain and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon told reporters on Sunday.
“This is not something we’re discovering now. They’ve established their reputation as a duo for Uruguay and on their own for their clubs.”
Italy’s coach Cesare Prandelli will almost certainly have to change his team with defensive midfielder Daniele De Rossi highly unlikely to play because of a leg injury.
Praised for his positive 4-1-4-1 system after the victory over England, and then pilloried for the same tactics after the Costa Rica defeat, Prandelli might switch to a 3-5-2 formation for the Uruguay clash.
Mario Balotelli would retain his place up front with the in-form Ciro Immobile joining him in a gamble on an untested strike partnership.
“It would be a novelty, with all the benefits and risks that are associated with that,” said Buffon.
“If this choice is made, what happens on the field will tell us if it was the right decision.”
With Suarez already confirmed as fit to play by the Uruguay team doctor despite pre-tournament knee surgery, and captain Diego Lugano still an injury doubt, coach Oscar Tabarez could stick with the same lineup that beat England.
He will be looking for another energetic performance from midfielders Alvaro Gonzalez and Nicolas Lodeiro, who he brought into the side after the lacklustre display against Costa Rica.
Italy and Uruguay played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in the Confederations Cup in Brazil last year with the Italians claiming a third-place playoff win by 3-2 in a penalty shootout.
Buffon, who saved three penalties in that shootout, believes how well Italy recover from their disappointing defeat by the Costa Ricans will go a long way to deciding whether the Azzurri progress.
“When you come from a defeat like that,” the 36-year-old said. “You’ve got to find the energy over the next few days to put things right.
“When we’re facing a challenge, that’s when we respond best.”
Meanwhile, Confident Suarez said Uruguay will look to pounce on Italian weaknesses as the ‘Celeste’ bid to keep their World Cup dream alive with a win against the four-time champions in Natal on today.
Liverpool striker Suarez helped Uruguay get over their 3-1 opening defeat to Costa Rica by scoring a brace in a morale-boosting 2-1 win over England last week.
Coupled with Italy’s shock defeat to Costa Rica, who are already qualified for the last 16, it gave the former two-time champions hope of emulating their impressive 2010 campaign which ended at the semi-finals stage.
Suarez’s previous experience of playing against Italians comes down to a string of UEFA Cup games, as well as his side’s 2-2 draw in the third-place play-off in last year’s Confederations Cup, in which Italy prevailed 3-2 after a penalty shootout.
Italy require only a draw to book their last-16 ticket, and although Suarez expects a tough encounter against Cesare Prandelli’s side he believes Uruguay will rise to the challenge.
“From last year’s Confederations Cup I know how organised they are. If you leave them just an inch they will make you pay,” the 27-year-old said.
“But they have weaknesses as well as strengths, and we will try to exploit those weaknesses.
“We expect Italy to be tough opponents, but we know what’s at stake and we are going out there to qualify.”
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez, who coached AC Milan during a spell in the 1990s, is more than familiar with the Italian game.
And the 67-year-old, known affectionately as ‘El Maestro’ (The Teacher), said the prospect of beating the Azzurri is a huge motivation.
“For me it would not be like winning any other match. The prospect of beating one of the best teams in the world is a huge motivation for me,” said Tabarez, who made his name leading Uruguayan giants Penarol to a fifth Copa Libertadores triumph.
Agencies
