Prandelli ready for challenge - Italy boss calls for right mentality from his reshaped team
Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 by skysports.com
Cesare Prandelli: Hoping his rejigged side approach Euro 2012 with the right mentality
Cesare Prandelli prepares to lead Italy into the European Championship this summer hoping his faith in the country's young talent is rewarded.
The former Fiorentina boss succeeded World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi after a miserable first-round exit at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Prandelli was charged with building a fresh team to replace the old guard and has made a positive start by guiding the Azzurri through an unbeaten qualifying campaign.
Italy conceded just two goals in qualifying while introducing a number of new faces into the squad.
Prandelli did so by sensibly retaining the services of captain Gianluigi Buffon in goal, Giorgio Chiellini at the back and veteran midfielder Andrea Pirlo in front of the back four.
But it is in attack where the Azzurri boss is hoping his faith in maverick talent reaps dividends.
Eccentric forward Antonio Cassano has recovered from minor heart surgery and is ready to take his place up front and he could be paired with Manchester City wildcard Mario Balotelli.
Gamble
Balotelli would represent a gamble, having been left out of several national team selections for breaching Prandelli's code of conduct.
And while the manager is unwilling to tolerate further indiscretions, he believes special players need to be nurtured.
"All the players who will be called up must understand that they don't represent themselves, but a nation," Prandelli said.
"The logic has to be that of the group and the attachment to the shirt.
"Balotelli can't afford to make any more mistakes, but I'm confident that he won't.
"We need to give players with talent an extra chance and there's no doubt that Balotelli has a special talent."
If the 21-year-old should fail to take his opportunity, 34-year-old Antonio Di Natale is likely to challenge for a starting place.
He was included in Prandelli's preliminary squad after helping Udinese to third-place in Serie A this season and finishing as the top Italian scorer in the league for a third successive year.
"He has scored over 100 goals in the last three years and he can be very helpful for us," Prandelli said.
Italy's tournament starts in the toughest possible way, against world champions Spain, before facing Croatia.
Their final game in Group C is against the Republic of Ireland, who are led by former national team boss Giovanni Trapattoni.
Threat
And Prandelli acknowledges that all three teams will pose a threat in their own way.
"We have the time to prepare for our first game against Spain," he said.
"Croatia are a tough team, too, with a very competitive midfield and attack. They'll be a hard obstacle to get over.
"Then there is Giovanni Trapattoni's Ireland, that we wished we didn't have to face.
"The important thing is that we arrive to the tournament in the best shape and we approach it with the right mentality."
The Italian federation (FIGC) have promised to stick by Prandelli whatever happens this summer, which should bring a level of stability and certainty to proceedings.
"Prandelli's continuation is not dependent on the outcome of the European Championship," FIGC president Giancarlo Abete said.
Prandelli is realistic, however, and believes a poor showing could still lead to his exit.
"I have a contract with the national team until 2014 and I want to respect it," he said.
"But I will be tested for results at the Euros just like every other coach."
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