Italy vs. Portugal: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream and TV Info
Portugal and Italy lock horns in round two of the European Under-21 Championships on Sunday. The Seleccao could seal passage to the semi-finals with a victory, while the Azzurri, licking their wounds after an embarrassing collapse against Sweden, need to jump-start their campaign.
The Details
Group B
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Venue: Mestsky Fotbalovy Stadion, Uherske Hradiste
Date: June 21, 2015
Time: 7:45 p.m. BST
TV and Live Stream: BT Sport 1 & HD (UK) / UEFA.tv live stream
Italy Preview
Italy found it tough to create chances against Sweden due to a lack of space between the lines, offering No. 9 Andrea Belotti pittance when it came to service. It may get even harder against Portugal who use a diamond that clogs the middle with four.
There were some bright spots in the opening loss to Sweden, but some dark ones too. For every strong Davide Zappacosta run or Domenico Berardi pass, there was a wasted Federico Viviani free-kick or a rough pass from Daniele Baselli.
Stefano Sturaro was stupidly sent off for raising his hands to an opponent's face in the first game, forcing a reshuffle in midfield. It is likely that Danilo Cataldi will replace him as a box-to-box presence.
Luigi Di Biagio needs to re-configure this side to create using the midfield and to find the strikers' runs, and he needs to re-fuel them with the confidence to play.
Predicted XI: Bardi; Zappacosta, Bianchetti, Rugani, Sabelli; Viviani, Cataldi, Baselli; Battocchio, Berardi, Belotti
Portugal Preview
A one-game assessment following the first full round of matches reveals that Portugal look the strongest side in this tournament. Rui Jorge has a good system, players who understand it and an extra edge in terms of quality in the middle.
William Carvalho and Bernardo Silva, who play at the base and the tip of the 4-4-2 diamond respectively, ran the show against England and helped the Seleccao dominate the centre of the pitch. Joao Mario, Ivan Cavaleiro and Raphael Guerreiro provided good width by bursting forward/wide.
All 11 players played well, and Jorge has absolutely no need to change anything, but he may consider Carlos Mane in place of Ricardo Pereira up top. If anyone on this team had an ineffectual game against England, it was perhaps him.
Predicted XI: Sa; Esgaio, Ilori, P.Oliveira, Guerreiro; William, S.Oliveira, Mario, Bernardo; Cavaleiro, Mane
Where The Game Will Be Won
Italy had plenty of the ball in most of the qualifying games they played, and they dominated possession against Sweden, at times edging 70 percent of play, per WhoScored.com. They're used to controlling and probing, but against Portugal's diamond they may be forced to concede and play a counter-based game.
How they adapt to this is will be key in shaping the match. Unlike England, who used Harry Kane to drop in and help, the Azzurri can play longer passes to Belotti and skip the midfield zone if they choose. That's where Belotti is at his best, and if the pass is right, Portugal's line will come under some scrutiny.
But if Italy are wasteful with the ball, The Seleccao will punish them. They're certain to win control of the midfield, and Italy's star centre-backs will have to keep an eye on the odd movements and runs their opposite numbers make.
Prediction
A loss is likely to see Italy bow out of the competition, or at least place them under extreme pressure heading into the third and final game. That should motivate them to win, but they come up against a stellar side who have Champions League experience in the key parts of the team.
It's difficult to be anything other than extremely impressed with Jorge's men, and we think it's another win for them.
Italy 0-2 Portugal
