‘Italy Should Stop Spain In The Old Way’

[Folami David]

Former defender Giuseppe Bergomi believes that the Italian national coach Cesare Prandelli should leave aside his principles for a day and revert to "catenaccio" in order to beat Spain in Thursday's Confederations Cup semifinal.
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"Spain is the only team against whom Italy should play in the old way," Bergomi told German press agency dpa Monday.
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Bergomi, 49, who played in four World Cups - helping Italy to triumph in 1982 - is currently in Brazil as a televsion analyst at the Confederations Cup.
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"This should be done only in this game and only against these opponents. You should be intelligent and understand the strength of the adversary."
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Bergomi is a firm supporter of the possession style of play imposed by Prandelli since taking over the Italy bench after the 2010 World Cup.
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Nonetheless, the heavy 4-0 defeat suffered against Spain at the final of Euro 2012 has caused the former Inter defender to suggest that Italy should return for one match to the "catenaccio" style of strong defence and counter attacks which characterized Italy for many years.
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"We will never be like Spain, said Bergomi, who thinks there is no point in trying to imitate Xavi and company. According to Bergomi, Italy flopped in the 2012 final by trying to play Spain at their own possession game, something that was impossible because of the Spaniards's superior technical level.
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"If you try to play like them you will not do that. You have to accept when someone is better than you.
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Only Spain plays this kind of football, not even Brazil does.
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"I think you have to be very compact and take advantage of the opposition's weaknesses. Sooner or later, Spain will give you a chance.
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"Look at club football and think which teams have managed to stop Barcelona? Apart from Bayern Munich this year, who were a special case, the teams that have put out Barca have been defensive ones like Inter Milan and Chelsea. If they want to beat Italy, Spain should play like that."
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Bergomi recognised the influence of the success of Barca and Spain in the change of mentality in Italian football, but warned about the temptation of trying to copy Spain's possession style.

[Folami David]

[Shola Sholaz]

Italy as a country are good anytime anyday when it comes to football. But they would only try. Spain would win.

[Shola Sholaz]