FIFA Confederations Cup 2013: Spain vs Italy: Key battles

Two goals by full back Jordi Alba helped Spain defeat Nigeria in the last game of group A , thus setting up an interesting semi final clash with Italy, who came 2^nd in group B. Spain has been the dominant force at international level for the past 4 years and thrashed Italy 4-1 when they met in the finals of Euro 2012. Italy welcomes back Daniele de Rossi and Andrea Pirlo, who missed the final match against Brazil through suspension and calf injury respectively.

Here are the 4 key battles of the game which could determine its outcome.

de Rossi vs. Iniesta

If there is one important conclusion that can be drawn from Italy’s defeat at the hands of Brazil, it is the fact that de Rossi is a vital player in the Italian squad. His presence in front of the Italian defence is very assuring. de Rossi is a complete midfielder in the sense that he has the ability to switch from attack to defence effortlessly, and performs wonderfully in both. De Rossi will come face to face with Spain’s midfield mastermind, Andres Iniesta. Iniesta has been instrumental for both club and country over the past few years. His balance, ball control, agility allied with his skill on the ball make him one of best attacking midfielders of his generation. His through balls and sleek passing provide the strikers with clear-cut scoring opportunities. Expecting de Rossi to keep Iniesta under his control throughout the game would be a big ask. But if Italy is serious about defeating Spain, de Rossi needs to up his game and make things difficult for the Spanish genius.

Pirlo vs. Busquets

The unconvincing display up front by Italian players against Brazil proved the fact that Pirlo is the heart and soul of Italian attack. The Italian architect is set to make a return for this all-important game and is expected to put up match winning performances against the reigning World champions. His exquisite passing ability was the only thing that was missed sorely in the encounter with Brazil. The job to handle him will be entrusted to Spanish defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets. Unlike de Rossi, Busquets focuses only on the defensive aspect of his game and has really excelled in it. His would have to make use of his intercepting abilities and timely tackles to keep the Italian maestro under a tight leash. Italy’s chances of progressing to the final would be influenced to a certain extent by the outcome of this midfield battle.

Torres vs. Chiellini

It is tough to predict whether Vicente del Busque would go with Torres or Roberto Soldado to spearhead the Spanish attack. But considering the fact that the Chelsea hit man has been a prolific scorer for his country in recent years, Torres might be the one who would be leading the attack. Torres is currently the competition’s top scorer with 5 goals, 4 of which came against a weakened Haiti side. This time around Torres faces a much tougher opposition in the form of Giorgio Chiellini. The Italian defender hasn’t had a memorable experience in this year’s Confederations Cup after being unable to keep a clean sheet in any of the matches so far. Chiellini has all the characteristics of a quality centre-back and has what it takes to become a legend. The Italian would need to bring his A game to play against Torres.

Stephan El Shaarawy vs. Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique

With striker Mario Balotelli sure to miss the semi-final encounter with Spain, Cesare Prandelli faces a dilemma regarding the player who would fill in for the Milan striker. But considering the fact that the striker would be against the likes of Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos, Prandelli might opt for Stephan El Shaarawy ahead of Alberto Gilardino. The Milan player, who is an attacking midfielder by nature, can also play as the central striker when needed. El Shaarawy is known for his outstanding dribbling ability and technical skill. His selection for the game would be primarily because of his pace which is essential when you square up against defenders like Ramos and Pique. The Spanish duo has had a comfortable campaign, rarely being troubled by their opposition. It is no surprise that the duo is backed to win this duel with the lone Italian striker. But you can never underestimate the talent of Stephan El Shaarawy who might bring his bag of tricks along to give the defenders a hard time.