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Spain vs Italy Preview

Euro 2012

Spain

1 vs 1

Italy

Played
June 11, 2012 12:00 AM MYT
PGE Arena Gdańsk — Gdańsk
Referee:‬ V. Kassai‎
Attendance:‬ 38869‎

64′ Cesc Fàbregas

Antonio Di Natale 60′

BETTING ODDS: ON OFF

Match Preview


Spain	1.73	6.00	1.80	1.75	1.80	5.50	1.76	1.73
Draw	3.40	1.20	3.50	3.40	3.50	1.20	3.45	3.30
Italy	5.50	9.00	5.00	5.50	5.00	13.00	5.70	5.83

Spain - Italy Preview: Reigning champions take on troubled Azzurri in Group C opener

The 2008 winners start the defence of their title at the finals facing another of the European giants, but recent events have seemingly weakened Cesare Prandelli's side

By Adam Scime

More On : Italy, Spain, Spain vs Italy

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

SPAIN

Casillas
Arbeloa, Ramos, Pique, Alba
Xabi Alonso, Busquets
Silva, Xavi, Iniesta
Torres

ITALY

Buffon
Bonucci, De Rossi, Chiellini
Maggio, T. Motta, Pirlo, Marchisio, B'retti
Balotelli, Cassano

Spain will have to go through Euro 2012 without influential duo David Villa and Carles Puyol, who were ruled out of the finals before the tournament started due to injury.

Therefore, Chelsea striker Fernando Torres, who has been inconsistent over the last 18 months, will likely be given the nod by coach Vicente del Bosque to start up front, although Athletic Bilbao's Fernando Llorente is another option.

At the back, due to Puyol's absence, Sergio Ramos should slot in at centre-back with Alvaro Arbeloa at right-back. Meanwhile, midfielder Cesc Fabregas may not be risked from the start after picking up a thigh problem in the Copa del Rey final but Juan Mata and Santi Cazorla will be hoping for a chance in more attacking roles.

Italy have more than their fair share of problems, however, with an investigation into a betting scandal resulting in Domenico Criscito being cut from the team, first-choice striker Giuseppe Rossi out of the tournament due to ligament damage and Andrea Barzagli being sidelined for the first two matches with a calf strain.

Defender Giorgio Chiellini missed the Azzurri's 3-0 friendly loss to Russia, but has claimed he is fully recovered and should start at the back. Midfielder Daniele De Rossi is likely to move into a three-man defence as Prandelli switches from a 4-3-1-2 to a 3-5-2 formation in the hope of changing their fortunes.

Emanuele Giaccherini and Federico Balzaretti will battle it out for a spot on the left of midfield but Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli are expected to continue their partnership up front.

DID YOU KNOW?

Spain have a record of W8 D11 L10 all-time versus Italy, but seven of those victories have come in friendly matches.

La Furia Roja have won an impressive 41 of their last 45 competitive matches and 14 of them in a row.

On their way to the title at Euro 2008, Spain beat the Azzurri in a penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw at the quarter-final stage.
Goalkeeper Iker Casillas recently earned his 73rd clean sheet with Spain in a 2-0 friendly win over Serbia, surpassing the international record set by Netherlands' Edwin van der Sar.

Italy last faced Spain in a friendly in August 2011, winning 2-1 in Bari with goals from Riccardo Montolivo and Alberto Aquilani.

Cassano was the top-scorer for Italy during their qualifying campaign, scoring six goals.

The Italians have won only two of their last nine games at the European Championships, drawing five and losing the other two.
None of the players in Prandelli's squad have scored more than 10 goals for their country with Antonio Di Natale and Daniele De Rossi both at that mark.

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Field Report

Reader's Predictions

Top 3 Predictions

Spain 1-2 Italy
16.21 %
Spain 2-0 Italy
14.72 %
Spain 2-1 Italy
12.04 %

Head to Head

Euro 2012 ‎(EC)‎	Jul 2, 2012	Spain 4 - Italy 0
Euro 2012 ‎(EC)‎	Jun 11, 2012	Spain 1 - Italy 1
International Friendlies ‎(FR)‎	Aug 11, 2011	Italy 2 - Spain 1
UEFA European Championship ‎(EC)‎	Jun 23, 2008	Spain 4 - Italy 2
International Friendlies ‎(FR)‎	Mar 27, 2008	Spain 1 - Italy 0

Last Five Matches

Spain
Mar 27, 2013	France 0 - Spain 1	WCQE
Mar 23, 2013	Spain 1 - Finland 1	WCQE
Feb 7, 2013	Spain 3 - Uruguay 1	FR
Nov 15, 2012	Panama 1 - Spain 5	FR
Oct 17, 2012	Spain 1 - France 1	WCQE

Italy
Mar 27, 2013	Malta 0 - Italy 2	WCQE
Mar 22, 2013	Italy 2 - Brazil 2	FR
Feb 7, 2013	Netherlands 1 - Italy 1	FR
Nov 15, 2012	Italy 1 - France 2	FR
Oct 17, 2012	Italy 3 - Denmark 1	WCQE

Odds

Team News

Available Squads

-	Iker Casillas
15	Sergio Ramos	Defender
17	Arbeloa	Defender
18	Jordi Alba	Defender
3	Piqué	Defender
6	Andrés Iniesta Luján	Midfielder
8	Xavi	Midfielder
10	Cesc Fàbregas	Midfielder
14	Xabi Alonso	Midfielder
16	Busquets	Midfielder
21	David Silva	Midfielder
12	Víctor Valdés	Goalkeeper
23	José Reina Paez	Goalkeeper
2	Raúl Albiol Tortajada	Defender
-	Juanfran
-	Javi Martínez	Midfielder
20	Santi Cazorla	Midfielder
22	Jesús Navas González	Midfielder
7	Pedro	Striker
-	Fernando Torres
11	Negredo	Striker
13	Juan Mata	Striker
-	Fernando Llorente Torres

1	Gianluigi Buffon	Goalkeeper
3	Giorgio Chiellini	Defender
19	Leonardo Bonucci	Defender
2	Christian Maggio	Midfielder
-	Thiago Motta
8	Claudio Marchisio	Midfielder
13	Emanuele Giaccherini	Midfielder
16	Daniele De Rossi	Midfielder
21	Andrea Pirlo	Midfielder
9	Mario Balotelli	Striker
-	Antonio Cassano
14	Salvatore Sirigu	Goalkeeper
12	Morgan De Sanctis	Goalkeeper
-	Angelo Obinze Ogbonna
-	Federico Balzaretti
-	Ignazio Abate	Defender
15	Andrea Barzagli	Defender
18	Riccardo Montolivo	Midfielder
-	Antonio Nocerino
22	Alessandro Diamanti	Midfielder
-	Antonio Di Natale
-	Fabio Borini
10	Sebastian Giovinco	Striker

Match News

Top Scorers

Player		Goals	Penalties
	Fernando Torres Striker Chelsea	3	0
	Cristiano Ronaldo Striker Real Madrid	3	0
	Mario Gomez Striker Bayern	3	0
	Mario Balotelli Striker Milan	3	0
	Mario Mandzukic Striker Bayern	3	0

Returns:	Spain $17.27	Sign up with Ladbrokes for a free bet up to $100
Returns:	Draw $34.00	Sign up with Ladbrokes for a free bet up to $100
Returns:	Italy $55.00	Sign up with Ladbrokes for a free bet up to $100