If Italy play 3-5-2 the next game, I honestly think Maggio was going to the better choice anyway.

Yeah, in a 3-man defensive system he's the better choice, but playing a back 4 you'd have a problem with him as we saw in the Euros, he did ok yesterday there but he tends to get caught out too much when playing as a proper FB instead of when playing at WB.

Wow, Spain are incredible...

Nigeria playing surprisingly well too.

This post has been edited by Zed.D: Jun 23 2013, 08:37 PM

Alba about 1 meter in offside, the linesman just didn't see it so he didn't flag.

The refereeing has been disastrous in this tournament so far.

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If that doesn't mean SES will start instead of freakin' Giaccherini, I don't know what does. too bad that even if he does start, it'll probably be as a winger not a CF.

Don't think it means El Sha is going to start. He will probably play with Gila and Giovinco in 5-3-2.

Italy's first priority should obviously be not conceding. Prandelli would be an idiot to put a lamp post in Gilardino out there when Italy need all their 10 men to run and defend and do pressing. we all remember how SES used to track back to defend and how he saved us from conceding several times better than our own CBs, we'll see if Prandelli has watched those games at all.

This post has been edited by Zed.D: Jun 26 2013, 09:32 AM

He want's a prima punta and SES isn't exactly tested in this department. Also, problem is, the form and current shape SES seems to be. Giaccherini with all his negatives still managed to score - which I doubt SES would do.

Italy tested out a three-man defence to face Spain with Claudio Marchisio and Antonio Candreva behind centre-forward Alberto Gilardino.

The Azzurri are forced into a tactical shift after losing Mario Balotelli and Ignazio Abate for the rest of the Confederations Cup.

On Thursday they take on Spain in the semi-final and Cesare Prandelli held his first training session behind closed doors.

La Gazzetta dello Sport sources managed to sneak a view of the proceedings in Fortaleza and reported back use of a 3-4-2-1 system.

It’s an all-Juventus back line with Gigi Buffon in goal, Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini together.

Emanuele Giaccherini and Christian Maggio are the wing-backs around Daniele De Rossi and Andrea Pirlo, who are back from suspension and a calf injury respectively.

Marchisio and Lazio’s Candreva act as support between the lines for Bologna forward Gilardino.

There will be another training session in a few hours, which will be open to photographers and media for only 15 minutes.

Many hypothesised the Azzurri would adopt a three-man defence against Spain, as it was with this system they earned an impressive 1-1 draw in the Euro 2012 group phase.

Good move. Makes the most of Italy's CBs, gives you more men in midfield. Madness for Italy to be using a back 4.

Actually it's pretty smart considering that so far, every time a back 3 has been used Italy have struggled big time, just because these are the Juve players playing in the same formation does not mean it will be a success. Techinically speaking, all of the 3 CBs from Juve have been shockingly bad throughout this competition. Goes to show how average they really are

Chiellini is really no LB. back 3/4 difference was shown up at the Euros. 3 is certainly the way to go.

You really don't like 3-man defenses, do you?

I think given Italy's injuries, it's the best way to go. But I wouldn't play neither Candreva nor Marchisio as AMs. Why not try 3-4-3 with SES, Gila and Giovinco instead?

Yeah I'm surprised with his forward choices.