PREVIEW: Euro 2008 Group C, Netherlands v Italy

Netherlands

vs

Italy

Monday, June 9th, 2045 CET
Berne (Switzerland) - Travel to Berne

THE BIG PICTURE

For starters, this is just a game in Group C, and all six will be worthy of watching with all three teams ranked in the top dozen in the world by FIFA. The Netherlands show up missing a great deal of its attack in Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and Ryan Babel, but the Azzurri show up without four legends from their World Cup winning squad: Francesco Totti, Alessandro Nesta, Fabio Cannavaro and coach Marcello Lippi. It’s a game of new faces, who will transition better?

Netherlands

Three Key Players:
Ruud van Nistelrooy - Ferguson thought he was done, van Basten dropped him…bullshit. He’s scored 41 in two years for Real and he’s as potent as ever.
Wesley Sneijder - Missing the pace of Robben and Babel, creativity will have to take over. After feeding balls to Ruud in Madrid this year, he’ll have to do it again.
Edwin van der Sar - Even though the back line only conceded five in qualifying, their are still major questions with the defense, especially in this group. EVDS will probably have his work cut out for him.

Netherlands squad
Netherlands Team Profile

Team News: Robben, Babel and van Persie are out and Melchiot is questionable. But perhaps more importantly, the quality veteran duo of Clarence Seedorf and Mark van Bommel want nothing to do with van Basten and pulled themselves from the tournament - van Bommel doing so long ago. With the injuries, they could sure use them.

Triviatastic: With Seedorf off the team, not a single Dutch player called up by van Basten is currently playing in Italy. Makes scouting a tad more difficult.

Visit Jan at the Netherlands Euro 2008 Team Blog for more.

Buy an Oranje jersey from the USA or UK

Italy

Three Key Players:
Andrea Pirlo - The man is an Italian metronome with fantastic hair. His playmaking abilities are second to none and as he goes, the Azzurri attack goes.
Luca Toni - Oh he of great goalscoring prowess has bounced back after the metatarsal injury he suffered towards the end of his stint with la Viola to dominate scoring charts. Even if he doesn’t score goals, he is an elite target man with an array of technical abilities.
Gigi Buffon - With Cannavaro out he may have to face a few more shots while wearing the armband as the captain in Canna’s stead. They’ll need his keeping and leadership.

Italy squad
Italy Team Profile

Team News: Fabio Cannavaro is out for around two months, leaving a gaping hole in the back, a dent in the leadership department and this guy heavily medicated.

Triviatastic: Italy conceded one goal in open play during the entire 2006 World Cup, and that lone goal was an own goal by Cristian Zaccardo, who has finally been shipped off to Germany for his sins.

Visit the trio of Marco, Ricci and Chris (me) at the Italy Euro 2008 Team Blog for more.

Buy an Azzurri jersey from the USA or UK

BIG BATTLES

Italian Central Defense vs Ruud van Nistelrooy Losing Cannavaro was a massive blow for each game, but also because he knows a lot about the Oranje’s main man, Ruud van Nistelrooy (as well as the rest of the Dutch contingent in Madrid). This forces Andrea Barzagli and whoever partners up with him, probably Marco Materazzi, to step up their games big time from the get go. The Azzurri like to get out in front and stay there, not play from behind.

Antonio Di Natale vs Dutch RB Mario Melchiot is iffy, which means van Basten won’t have his ideal man at right back - even if he plays it won’t be at 100%. Di Natale, on the other hand, is on fire and only seems to be getting better with age. Scored a brace in the only friendly before the tournament against Belgium two weeks ago and he just oozes pace and technical qualities.

Klaas Jan Huntelaar vs Antonio CassanoThe Oranje have one of the world’s most coveted young goal scorers while the Azzurri have perhaps the most naturally gifted player at this tournament….yet they’ll both likely start the game on the bench. Which can come on and make a bigger difference? And if Cassano doesn’t play, will he end up murdering Donadoni in the post game presser?

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