QUOTE (X-Offender @ Jun 4 2014, 11:41 PM)
Why would he play Candreva? Why? Why? Why?
Seriously! He's easily the most limited player I've seen in a while play for Italy. And he was supposedly included in the line-up instead of Cassano because he provides more work rate and cover for Abate, but Marchisio and Pirlo were doing a better job at that on the left side helping DS out while Candreva was almost invisible.
He mostly made terrible passes, especially to Abate after he busted his gut to overlap his run and shot at row Z a couple of times.
There's obviously a lot Italy need to work in in the next few days. The midfield last night was a complete mess. Don't know if it was intentional from Prandelli to throw off the teams in their group as these friendlies are usually used as indications of how a team will play, especially for the opener.
Also, Cassano isn't a "hard worker" (not that Candreva was busting his @ss out there yesterday) but he gives Italy that creative spark that no one else on that team can, some of the combinations him and Balo played yesterday after he came on were simply amazing to watch.
Imo, the best 11 for Italy and the one they should play against England with is
Abate--Chiellini--Barzagli--MDS
Pirlo
De Rossi--Marchisio
Verratti
Balo--Cassano