Italy vs. Sweden: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream and TV Info
Group B at the European Under-21 Championships kicks off with an intriguing encounter between Italy and Sweden, two sides who took very different paths to reach the finals.
The Azzurri drew Slovakia in the play-off and made light work of them after topping their qualifying group, whereas the Swedes had to upset the applecart to overcome ferocious France on aggregate.
The Details
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Group B
Venue: City Stadium, Uherske Hradiste
Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2015
Time: 5 p.m. BST
TV and Live Stream: BT Sport 1 & HD (UK) / UEFA.tv live stream
Italy Preview
Italy have a series of luminous question marks over their proposed starting XI.
Francesco Bardi, the clear No. 1 goalkeeper throughout qualifying, has barely played any football this year and could come under pressure from Nicola Leali. Stefano Sturaro joined the setup late, and Luigi Di Biagio may be forced to pick between sturdiness (Lorenzo Crisetig, Federico Viviani) or flourish (Danilo Cataldi, Daniele Baselli) in midfield.
Christian Battocchio stands to play opposite Domenico Berardi in a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 look, with Andrea Belotti the confirmed marksman up front. Italy are leaning on the best defence in the competition; Daniele Rugani and Alessio Romagnoli could waltz into any line in the competition.
Sweden Preview
Sweden midfielder Oscar Lewicki told UEFA.com ahead of the game: "We have to stay focused and get ready to perform. We have rehearsed set pieces today and we already know a lot about Italy. We are aware of the things we have to do ourselves when playing against them."
Coach Hakan Ericson is a thoroughly well-prepared individual who demands hard work and guts from his players. Even when the U21 side reached their zenith in defeating France 4-3 in the play-off for the tournament, they were closing off angles and hustling off the ball.
We expect a workmanlike 4-4-2 from the Swedes, who've found success in a John Guidetti-Isaac Kiese Thelin partnership up front. The front two press, setting the line for the others.
Oscar Hiljemark, captain of the side, should partner Lewicki in the middle, but there are question marks over the wide berths; could Branimir Hrgota grab a start?
Where The Game Will Be Won
Projected Swedish left-back Ludwig Augustinsson has an extremely unenviable task on his hands: Mark, handle and otherwise detain Domenico Berardi of Italy. The Sassuolo/Juventus wide man is the star player in this side and a top-10 performer heading into the tournament.
Much of the Azzurri's game will revolve around getting the ball to Berardi in space to run, and Sweden must choose whether they clamp the service to Berardi (by shutting out the midfield), or double-marking him with a defensive winger.
Italy's centre-backs will go one-on-one with Thelin and Guidetti, who both offer very different styles of play. The former is big, strong and technical, capable of holding his man at arm's length while he distributes, while the latter is quick, nippy and hits the channels. They may not be star names, but this is a varied, early test of Di Biagio's vaunted line.
Prediction
Sweden were made to look better than they are in defeating France, though it's evident they have a giant-killing gene that's a threat to the status quo in this tournament. They'll keep it tight, but Italy's defence will take some beating and they could nick one at the other end.
Italy 1-0 Sweden
