Spain and Italy duel for second place in the Confederations Cup decision

The South Americans clashed on Wednesday in Belo Horizonte and this is the fifth time the representatives of Europe duelarem the right to decide the title of the Confederations Cup against Brazil on Sunday at the Maracana stadium in Rio de January. Spain and Italy, the Euro finalist last year, put the field in Arena Castellan, in Fortaleza, to 16 hours, the weight of history and tradition of two of the top teams in the world - and both hungry for victory.



Spain, model good football and winning the last two European and 2010 World Cup or the Confederations Cup title to complete their showcase of trophies - in 2009, in South Africa, the team was defeated in the semifinals by the United USA. Italy, vice European champions face changed under the command of coach Cesare Prandelli and need a victory to gain prestige as a team that changed the defensive rigidity by touch of the ball and willingness to attack.

In Euro 2012, the teams met twice. In the opening round in Gdansk (Poland), there was a 1-1 tie in a game in which the Italians were higher - as Spain coach Vicente del Bosque admitted at the press conference this Wednesday in the Arena Castellan. In the final in Kiev (Ukraine), Spain gave a tour and won 4-0.

Prandelli has set the blueprint for starting this farm-inspired performance of his team in Gdansk. As that day, climbed three defenders. The difference is that this time the Azzurri go into the field with six midfielders and one striker (Gilardino, replacing Balotelli cut) and the team played at Euro at 3-5-2. The intention of the coach is to have numerical superiority in midfield to pressure the Spanish smugglers - especially Xavi and Iniesta - and hinder the frame moves.



The return of Pirlo - recovered from a muscle spasm in the right calf - is great news for your plans to stay with the ball as much as possible and keep the game indefinitely until the end. He believes that the longer the score stay balanced, more chance your team will have to get a spot in the final. If Spain open early advantage, it will be very hard to reverse, under a sunny 30 degrees and the opponent hiding the ball with the efficiency with which it usually does.

Spaniards are five years what Prandelli hopes his Italy is one day: a team that puts quality technical service to the collective and that has much to build rapport game as to quickly retrieve the ball without even having large markers in the middle field, thanks to the pressure that can make the opponent who is in possession of it.

Your team can play on autopilot to win with authority and Italy need to force your shirt tetracampeã world and a lot of determination to subvert the logic.