Italy take on Uruguay today in what is sure to be tense encounter at the Estadio das Dunas later today. Ciro Immobile is looking likely to start, with Daniele De Rossi picking up a calf injury and Mattia De Sciglio ready to return from a thigh injury. Luis Suarez is still fit after returning from injury to put England out of the tournament with two spectacular goals, with Uruguay expecting to field the same side. Diego Lugano probably won’t feature due to injury, however Maxi Pereira is eligible to play once more after serving out his suspension.
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Italy are only required to secure a draw in order to go through to the last sixteen, thanks to a vastly superior goal difference. They pulled off the same feat last year in the confederations cup (which they were a surprise participant in) against the same opponents they face this evening, and even managed to win the play-off for third place on penalties. Fatigue is playing its part in team selection and fitness right now, with reports coming out of all camps (except the Brazilians) that legs are a little tired and the heat is also changing a few game plans. Italy were testament to this as they found the afternoon heat almost unbearable against Costa Rica.
Uruguay really have to win this one in order to stand a chance of securing second, but the Albiceleste are not afraid of digging their heels in and doing some hard graft. Uruguay manager Oscar Tabarez said “I have a group who are used to resisting pressure and who react to it in a good way. Italy have been world champions four times and we have a lot of respect for them. It will be a tough challenge for us, but I believe we will have our chances.” The last time they met was in this tournament in Italy in 1990, with Italy actually bossing the proceedings that day to finish the game 2-0 winners. Tabarez was coach of Uruguay that day too, and had to watch as Toto Schillaci scored a stunning opener from the edge of the penalty box.
While Uruguay are under a lot of pressure in their group thanks to their top seeding, Italy also have pressure of their own from back home to deal with. Thats thanks to the fact that they bowed out of the tournament last time as defending champions of 2006 and Cesare Prandelli has called this game: “The most important match of my professional career”. He has emphasized to his squad the importance of their country’s pride and identity as a football nation by saying: “In terms of character and competitiveness we will have to match them. Uruguay have more of a sense of being patriotic than we do, as a nation. If we lose a match, it must have been because the opposition was simply better.”
With Uruguay having won more of the meetings between these two sides, it still looks far from a nailed on result, with the majority of their meetings actually being draws.
