Quarter Final 4: England vs Italy
England:
Well whod have thought it? No expectations seems to suit England well after they qualified top of their group when few people anticipated them to make it out of it. Theyve also improved by each match. Joleon Lescott and John Terry look more and more assured as a partnership and Hodgsons shape is starting to settle. Scott Parker and Steven Gerrard may be a little worse for wear but they helped dictate the game at parts against a passionate Ukraine side and we can go in to Sundays Quarter Final with mild expectations...Touch wood.
Match Plan: Hodgsons first half goal will be not to concede, maintain shape and try and attack a slow Italy side on the counter. It will be a tossup as to whether Welbeck and Walcott start for the pace, or Milner and Carroll for the delivery and to attack a European playing defence.
Tournament Expectations: I believe they can beat Italy (touch wood) and a Semi-Final against Germany will be a brilliant achievement, but sadly all that England will be able to achieve.
Italy:
Italy would have expected to qualify a little bit easier than they did, at one stage they were one goal from going out at the expense of a Croatian side who looked better than them throughout the group stage and its fair to say if Italy played a side better than Ireland in their final game, they might not be playing in the Quarter Final. However there is encouragement in how theyve got Balotelli to score and if he turns it on, he could terrorise Englands defence.
Match Plan: Imagine it to be conservative, like the Italians typically are, but expect Balotelli to start and be given free rein to try and attack Englands defence whilst they try to maintain possession. Scott Parker vs Pirlo will be the battle of the match.
Tournament Expectations: This is one of the least conclusive ties of the round, both teams can expect to go through and if Italys players play to the top of their ability they can be expected to beat England, but if they play like they have so far it will be a difficult fixture for them. What do you think? Who should start? Who will win? Will any shocks happen? Comment below!