VS
The US meets Italy on 17 Jun at Kaiserslautern at 9 PM German time (3 PM EST).
USA – Italy FIFA ranking/ WC Odds: 5/81 13/10
On paper the US stand no chance against the Italians. Two things have defined the Azzurris over the years. An opportunistic striker and a steel trap defence that is expected to hold onto the lead till the end of the play. A formula that has worked like a charm for the Italians winning three WC titles. The last one in the 1982 edition beating W. Germany 3-1. In 1994 they again made the finals but were outscored in the penalty shootout with Brazil. Their soccer is best described as ho-hum. Marcelo Lippi, their coach has promised to turn things around with the Italians playing exciting and attacking soccer but this remains to be seen.
The Italians are coming of a scandal ridden domestic series and a number of players have been picked up for questioning including Fabio Cannavaro, the captain and Gianluigi Buffon, the goalkeeper. Francesco Totti and Gennaro Gattuso are coming of injuries. It will require an effort but the focus of the Italian team would be not to get distracted with the Serie scandal and prove to the world that they have come to play soccer.
Key matchup:
The US duo of DeMarcus Beasley and Landon Donovan against the Italian deep defense.
Apart from England and Germany, the US has one of the quicker attacking midfields. Landon Donovan and DeMarcus Beasley have to split the Italian defence wide with their speed. And service the ball to Brian McBride and Eddie Johnson or Brian Ching through crosses into the box. One way to do this is to drag the Italian defense to the flanks, spread them thin and then either move into the box area or serve the ball to your forwards. Their work rate has to be phenomenal. And Donovan cannot afford to be ephemeral and disappear as he is does in some of the matches. In this attacking mode Claudio Reyna becomes a libero dropping away from the box and giving another option to Beasley or Donovan to serve the ball to so that he can either try and score or re-distribute the ball.
The US defense has to gamble. The Italian striker that can do most damage is Luca Toni. He has scored 31 goals in the Serie. Mark him well. Assign the more physically intimidating 6′ 4″ Onyewu on him because Toni also scores well in the air. As with Salvatore Schillaci, Paolo Rossi, and Roberto Baggio, he is an opportunistic striker.Kasey Keller has to be sharp as the Italians score typically in a lull. For free kicks watch out for Andrea Pirlo, their free kick specialist. He has perfected a technique of scoring free kicks with the outside three toes, swerving the ball from right to left.
The Italians would love to run up the score against the US knowing fully well that they have a sharpshooting team in the Czech Republic. Much will depend on the Italy- Ghana encounter on June 12th. If that game is run close then look for the Italians to force the pace in the US match. This will give the US more opportunities to mount counterattacks.
Key player stats:
USA
Brian McBride (striker): 30 goals in 92 internationals
Landon Donovan (striker): 25 goals in 81 internationals
Claudio Reyna (midfielder): 8 goals in 109 internationals
John O’Brien (midfielder): 3 goals in 31 internationals
DaMarcus Beasley (midfielder): 12 goals in 58 internationals
Steve Cherundolo (defender): 1 goal in 35 internationals
Carlos Bocanegra (defender): 6 goals in 40 internationals
Oguchi Onyewu (defender): 1 goal in 14 internationals
Kasey Keller (goalkeeper): 93 internationals
Coach
Bruce Arena (record) W 19 L 8 D 7
Italy
Luca Toni (striker): 7 goals in 18 internationals
Alessandro Del Piero (striker): 28 goals in 74 internationals
Francesco Totti (midfielder): 9 goals in 53 internationals
Gennaro Gattuso (midfielder): 4 goals in 41 internationals
Andrea Pirlo (midfielder): 4 goals in 24 internationals
Fabio Cannavaro (defender): 1 goal in 93 internationals
Alessandro Nesta (defender): 74 internationals
Massimo Oddo (defender): 20 internationals
Gianluigi Buffon (goalkeeper): 60 internationals
Coach
Marcelo Lippi (record) W 8 L 1 D 3
Italy- USA head to head: 3-0-2
The US has done well against Italy in past internationals. Except for a 7-1 blowout in the 1934 WC. In their last match Italy won against the US in a 2002 friendly 1-0. Their other win over the US came in the 1990 World Cup, 1-0. Other matches Italy drew the USA, 1-1 in 1992 and 0-0 in a 1984 encounter.
The defensive stat: The Italians have scored only 110 goals in 70 WC matches but they have also only conceded 67 goals.
33 of those goals have come from 4 strikers. Chrisitian Vieri (9), Roberto Baggio (9), Paolo Rossi (9), Salvatore Schillaci (6).
The Italians are one of the worst penalty taking teams having only scored 8 goals in 15 attempts and lost all three matches.
Update: Kinney draws my attention to the injured Cory Gibbs. Arena will most probably start 6’4″ Oguchi Onyewu and 6’1″ Eddie Pope at CB.