Italy out to erase bitter memories of 2010

Dubai: While Italy have been handed a tough draw in Group D in Brazil alongside Uruguay, England and Costa Rica, their fans will at least take heart from one fact — they can’t do any worse than four years ago.

In South Africa, the Azzurri somehow contrived to finish bottom of a pool containing Paraguay, Slovakia and New Zealand, collecting just two points before a 3-2 defeat by the eastern Europeans ensured the defending champions went home early.

Since then, however, Cesare Prandelli has come in as coach and the four-time world champions have been on an upward curve.

Just two years after their World Cup embarrassment, Italy reached the final of Euro 2012 playing a far more attractive brand of football than the ‘catenaccio’ they are famed for. And last year they again impressed on the way to finishing third in the Confederations Cup in Brazil.

And another big difference between the squads of 2014 and 2010 is that two key players will be available this time — reliable veteran midfielder Andrea Pirlo and maverick striker Mario Balotelli.

Juventus maestro Pirlo was absent through injury four years ago — aside from a brief substitute appearance in the final game against Slovakia — and his subsequent performances for both club and country have marked him out as a potential key player this summer, even at the age of 35. The deep-lying playmaker regularly delivers cutting final balls, while his strike rate from dead ball opportunities is phenomenal and he will be a lynchpin of Italy’s efforts.

Balotelli, meanwhile, is far less reliable but perhaps even more important when he does get it right. If the enigmatic AC Milan frontman finds the mood that saw him score twice to down Germany in the Euro 2012 semi-finals, then he will be a genuine match-winner. But if he produces the form and attitude that saw him bombed out of Manchester City, Italy could struggle. Up front, Balotelli’s partnership with Giuseppe Rossi looks promising if the Fiorentina forward has fully recovered from a serious knee injury he suffered in January. Further back, Daniele de Rossi is always an impressive driving force in midfield, while Italy’s defence wears its usual impregnable look.

Group D
Fifa ranking: 9

Buffon; De Sciglio, Chiellini, Barzagli, Abate; Motta, Pirlo, Aquilani, De Rossi; Cassano, Balotelli

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain), Mattia Perin (Genoa)

Defenders: Ignazio Abate (AC Milan), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Torino), Mattia De Sciglio (AC Milan), Gabriel Paletta (Parma)

Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (Fiorentina), Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint-Germain), Marco Parolo (Parma), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain)

Forwards: Mario Balotelli (AC Milan), Antonio Cassano (Parma), Alessio Cerci (Torino), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli)

Uruguay
England
Costa Rica

Topped Uefa qualifying Group B after staying unbeaten through their 10 matches, finishing six points clear of Denmark.

First tournament: 1934 at home
Appearances (before 2014): 17
Best finish: Winners (1934, 38, 82, 2006)