Torino vs Livorno preview - Tachtsidis targets double boost

Posted Friday, March 21, 2014 by PA

Torino midfielder Panagiotis Tachtsidis is targeting both a reversal of fortunes for the Serie A club and a summer spent at the World Cup in Brazil.

The on-loan Catania midfielder has represented Greece four times in recent years while helping Torino challenge for a top-half finish in the current Italian championship.

The Granata have, however, lost four games in a row - failing to score across all 360 minutes - and risk slipping to 13th in the table should they suffer defeat at home to Livorno on Saturday.

Tachtsidis, 23, is fully focused on steadying the ship at the Stadio Olimpico but rather hopes his performances catch the eye of Greece coach Fernando Santos.

He told Tuttosport: "I'm focused on Torino and, if I play well for the Granata, I'd like to think I deserve the opportunity that every player dreams about getting - playing at the World Cup.

"But it's too early to talk about the future, I can only think about doing well for my club.

"Now is the time for us to work out what we need to do.

"We have to think about winning a few matches, starting with Livorno, because we've collected less points than we deserved from recent matches.

"But I think that's been down to bad luck and that things are about to change."

Marcelo Larrondo, Salvatore Masiello and Giovanni Pasquale will not feature against Livorno due to injury while goalkeeper Jean-Francois Gillet remains suspended due to his failure to report match-fixing during his time at Bari.

Missing from the Tuscan squad are Innocent Emeghara and Ibrahim Mbaye, who were both sent off during Livorno's 2-1 home victory over Bologna last time out.

Midfielder Andrea Luci is injured as the Amaranto go in search of their first top-flight victory over Torino since 2009.

He told the Corriere dello Sport: "I'm missing being out on the pitch with my team-mates.

"The rehabilitation is going well, so I hope I'll be back in training by July.

"It's been tough being out of action, even harder than battling out on the pitch.

"I will be right behind the team right until the very end of the season."