Italy suffer Montolivo blow
Riccardo Montolivo’s “serious injury” overshadowed what was a lively friendly at Craven Cottage between World Cup hopefuls Italy and rebuilding Republic of Ireland. The experienced AC Milan midfielder was forced off after just eight minutes following a robust challenge from Reading defender Alex Pearce. The 29-year-old reportedly told the Italian medical team, “Mi sono rotto” (I’m broken), before heading to hospital to undergo X-rays on his left tibia bone. With 58 Azzurri caps already to his name, Montolivo is one of the more experienced members of Italy’s World Cup squad and a veteran of the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. His injury represents a blow to Cesare Prandelli’s plans – especially considering his injury-prone replacement Alberto Aquilani lasted the best part of 20 minutes before being substituted due to suspected concussion. Although Italian supporters don’t need to panic quite yet as Daniele De Rossi and Andrea Pirlo were omitted from the starting line-up. Injuries such as Montolivo’s are of course the danger when it comes to World Cup warm-up friendlies, but from an English point of view, it is a small boost for Roy Hodgson as the Three Lions manager hopes to avoid a repeat of Euro 2012 and ensure his midfield makes an impression in their World Cup opener against Italy on 14 June.
Irish improvements
Martin O’Neill was left to bemoan the lack of a prolific finisher after Ireland’s 2-1 loss to Turkey on Sunday. Whilst the Boys in Green failed to beat Salvatore Sirigu, the Ireland manager could at least take heart from a performance that showed signs of progress – and particularly against a side gearing up for a tilt at the World Cup crown. With Shane Long leading the line and the Irish midfield bounding forward to offer support, Italy were pegged back following Montolivo’s injury. And the Irish looked a genuine threat. It wasn’t just counter-attacking football either. O’Neill’s men sought out in-form Seamus Coleman on the right wing, who regularly combined with David Meyler and Wes Hoolahan outside the Italian area to create moments of danger. Not to be outdone, left-back Stephen Ward sent a dangerous, low delivery across Sirigu’s area before Long could only guide Aiden McGeady’s cross into the Italy goalkeeper’s hands. Perhaps sensing a possible Italian scalp, Ireland made a bright start to the second half, too, as Anthony Pilkington flashed an effort narrowly wide as Italy escaped unpunished after some very un-Italian defending. Although a goalless draw suggests another Giovanni Trapattoni-like Irish attacking performance, the scoreline didn’t tell the full story as O’Neill’s midfield look to be improving. Now Long just needs a goal…
Italy’s World Cup ambitions
What lessons could Hodgson take from the result? Well, the success of the Irish full-backs moving into the Italian half certainly provides encouragement considering Leighton Baines and Glen Johnson, who will presumably start at Arena Amazonia, are both attacking-minded. The Azzurri midfield boasts players of quality in the shape of Marchisio, Daniele De Rossi and Pirlo (who was an unused substitute) but Ireland’s pressing game prevented Italy from gaining the upper-hand against Italy’s second-string. The likes of Jordan Henderson and Jack Wilshere will be pivotal in closing down space in Brazil. But perhaps the biggest headache for Prandelli will be scoring goals. The Irish defence rarely looked threatened from open play, and when John O’Shea and co were caught out, the linesman came to their rescue. Italy’s best moment of the goalless draw came in the 22nd minute when Giuseppe Rossi’s superb individual skill released Matteo Darmain, but the full-back was denied by David Forde. Marchisio In fact, the 2006 World Cup winners trailed Ireland 13-16 (2-7 on target) in terms of attempts as Stephen Quinn’s 77th-minute effort hit the crossbar.