Italy will meet Slovakia in the last Group F game for both countries in the World Cup 2010 online live on Thursday with striker Alberto Gilardino warning his team mates that they have to improve or will “deserve to go home” from the tournament in South Africa.
As part of the squad that has so far stuttered and stumbled through their campaign to defend the trophy they won in 2006, Gilardino had little words of encouragement for his team mates as they enter the clash against Slovakia needing a win to be guaranteed a place in the last 16. Lose or draw, and the Azzurri could become only the second reigning world champion – after France in 2006 – to fail to advance from the group stage in their subsequent defence.
“I didn’t expect it to turn out like it did,” Gilardino said. “But if we want to progress to the next round, we have to do much more, otherwise, it is right that we go home.”
“The important thing is to look forward not back. The possibility to go through is there just as our will to win. In our first two games, we wanted to create something important but we were not able to do so.
“Paraguay and New Zealand didn’t cause much danger to us but we still failed to make the most of our chances. The will is there but the problem is that we are lacking ideas.”
Italy could welcome back Andrea Pirlo from injury to their starting lineup as the world champions are desperately in need of the creativity the AC Milan star can provide. Azzurri boss Marcello Lippi is sorely lacking options in the playmaking department and spent Wednesday playing down rumours of an internal crisis.
“We can still do important things in this World Cup,” he said. “It’s within our possibilities. We can do so much better that what we have done so far.
“But we have to take responsibility after two games that didn’t go as we had planned. Not everything has gone well but we cannot see the glass empty because it’s not the case. There is absolutely no crisis in our team.”
Prediction: Italy have been poor in the tournament so far, but so have Slovakia since slumping to a shock draw in their opening game. If Pirlo is to return, his impact could be immediate. Italy should nick it and -188 for an Azzurri win is the way to go.
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