Breaking Down Italy's Tactics and Their World Cup Prospects

Italy are quietly confident as we approach the final stretch before the World Cup next summer.

Qualification was easily negotiated as the Azzurri topped Group B and now it is just a matter of which players Cesare Prandelli selects for Brazil.

The tactics that the former Fiorentina coach utilises is a fascinating matter as it is potentially Italy's greatest asset.

Tactically Italy can consider themselves a match for any side in the world, with the versatility to Prandelli's tactical repertoire.

Prandelli had used, to great effect, a narrow 4-4-2 system that included a rotating rhombus at the heart of the side, utilising the players' outstanding work rate and technical excellence to play in both a defensive and attacking manner.

Moving forward, though, Prandelli has taken advantage of the growing contingent of support strikers that have emerged in Serie A.

With a 4-3-3, Prandelli can set the side up to be able to deal better defensively in transitions with a fixed trident of central midfielders.

Moreover, Prandelli has been prone to use a versatile front player who is capable of working back into midfield to make a bank of four—with the other wide threat dropping into the hole behind the lone striker.

Players such as Emanuele Giaccherini perfectly suit the tactical plan of Prandelli and enhance the performances of the more prominent central figures in the side by preventing the team from being exposed in the wide areas and forcing players to drift into the vacant spaces, thus leaving gaps for the opposition to expose.

Antonio Candreva is in the same mould, with an excellent engine to drive up and down the flank, often linking with the full-back and stretching the pitch to take advantage of the excellent range of passing that Andrea Pirlo possesses.

Candreva is particularly useful due to his ability to score from range, thus providing a second option if the opposition are disciplined enough to maintain their shape and prevent any spaces from opening up.

There is a third option to Prandelli, which actually utilises Italy's strongest pool of players, and that is the 3-5-2.

With great depth at centre-back, most of whom play for Juventus—alongside numerous quality central midfielders—this formation also allows Prandelli to play a partner alongside Mario Balotelli, preventing him from being doubled up on and potentially frustrated to the extent that he risks being sent off.

It is that man who is perhaps preventing Prandelli from utilising the 3-5-2 on a permanent basis because Super Mario is more at home in the 4-3-3.

This is an understandable decision from a manager who knows that, outside of Pirlo in his prime, Balotelli holds the key to Italy's success given he is a world-class striker.

After a frustrating time at Manchester City, Balotelli has proven his worth, both at Euro 2012 and now back in Italy at AC Milan.

While he is versatile enough to play in multiple formations, Prandelli is replicating the stance made by Alejandro Sabella with Argentina.

Sure, Balotelli could accommodate others by playing a marginally different role—as could Lionel Messi—but it should never be about that with your best player, it should be others adjusting to roles that best complement that specific player.

Prandelli ensures that there are numerous midfielders in addition to Pirlo, notably Alberto Aquilani, Thiago Motta, Claudio Marchisio and Riccardo Montolivo, who are all comfortable on the ball and capable of feeding Balotelli into feet or dropping the ball on to his chest.

Balotelli is then capable of working enough space to distribute to the wide players with his underrated ability on the ball before darting into the penalty area in expectation of a delivery to attack.

Pablo Osvaldo is an able back-up for Balotelli and while his form for Southampton has not been scintillating since moving from Roma, it is nothing to be concerned about as we approach the World Cup.

Of course, there is another option to ensure Balotelli snaps out of this current blip he has been caught in while Milan struggle and that is Giuseppe Rossi.

Pepito has been the best striker in Serie A this season and, due to injuries, Prandelli has been unable to integrate him into his plans for the World Cup.

But the Viola striker is fit again and in scintillating form, which poses the question as to whether he is either interchangeable with Balotelli or someone Prandelli would consider accommodating alongside him in a different formation.

The side is fine-tuned in the midfield and attacking third, but one weakness is apparent and that is the full-back areas—most are highly capable of attacking or defending, but not both.

Mattia De Sciglio appears to be capable of contributing excellently at both aspects of the game, but his fitness is a concern for such a young player.

Ignazio Abate has the speed to recover when he slacks off defensively, giving him an edge on Christian Maggio, who continues to struggle in the back four at Napoli.

So we can expect Prandelli to continue to evolve this side, which has been masterfully developed in conjunction with both experience and youth.

Tactically, Italy are the real deal and their quality is substantial enough to make them a legitimate contender for the World Cup on the condition that their key players remain healthy because their pool of world-class players is somewhat thin.

But with the shorter format of a knockout tournament and Prandelli's tactical acumen, Italy have a chance of claiming a fifth World Cup next summer.