Slovakia v Italy: match preview

Group F
Slovakia v Italy
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
Kick-off: Thu June 24, 3pm BST
taly, after two draws, are understandably sweating over the defence of their title, even if they can be comforted by the great tradition of being slow starters at World Cups. “We are worried,” admits Daniele De Rossi, but not worried enough to believe they will slip up against a side who were picked apart by Paraguay. Italy could welcome back their playmaker Andrea

Pirlo, who’s hoping to be fit following the calf injury which has so far ruled him out, in place of the unimpressive Claudio Marchisio.
Alberto Gilardino is also vulnerable after his striking struggles. Slovakia may ditch Kornel Salata, after his admission of big match stage fright against Paraguay.
Key clash
If Slovakia are harbouring any real ambition, they must still believe that through Robert Vittek and Stanislav Sestak, they can test the ageing legs of Fabio Cannavaro, who has been struggling here and looks half the colossus he was during the 2006 triumph
Talking tactics
Slovakia have to go for the win and the side which landed only one shot on target against Paraguay may have to be more positive this time, bringing
back the old Chelsea midfielder Miroslav Stoch if he has recovered from his knee injury.
Touchline duel
There’s no question which of the two coaches is under pressure, and Marcello Lippi has been betraying signs of it during terse briefings with the media.
Yet Slovakia’s Vladimir Weiss has seemed equally unhappy, having walked out of press conferences in a huff and bearing unhappy memories of Italy in the
World Cup, having been part of the Cezch team which lost 2-0 to a Roberto Baggio-inspired side in 1990.
What they say
Marcello Lippi: "Not everything has gone well but we don't need to see the glass half empty. Our World Cup could start here."
Wladimir Weiss: "We lost against Paraguay because we weren’t bold enough up front, so we need to be more positive against Italy.”
Teams
Slovakia (4-4-2): 1 Mucha; 2 Pekarik, 3 Skrtel, 16 Durica, 4 Cech 6 Strba, 7 Weiss, 15 Stoch, 17 Hamsik, 11 Vittek; 9 Sestak
Subs: 12 Pernis, 23 Kuciak, 5 Zabavnik, 8 Kozak, 10 Sapara, 13 Holosko, 14 Jakubko, 18 Jendrisek, 19 Kucka, 20 Kopunek, 21 Salata, 22 Petras.
Italy (4-3-3): 12 Marchetti 19 Zambrotta, 5 Cannavaro, 4 Chiellini, 3 Criscito; 22 Montolivo, 6 De Rossi, 21 Pirlo; 9 Iaquinta, 20 Pazzini, 10 Di Natale
Subs:14 De De Sanctis, 2 Maggio, 7 Pepe, 8 Gattuso, 11 Gilardino, 13 Bocchetti, 15 Marchisio, 16 Camoranesi, 17 Palombo, 18 Quagliarella, 23 Bonucci
Referee: TBC.
Previous meetings
Played 1: Slovakia 0, Draws 0, Italy 1
1998: (Catania, friendly): Italy 3 Slovakia 0
Fact: Italy have drawn their last three games 1-1. In the final in 2006 when were held by France before winning on penalties and have been held in this year’s competition by Paraguay and New Zealand.
Prediction: Italy should bounce back from the draw with New Zealand; a win for the Azzurri.