Italy fails! Other than a pass for the round of XNUMX, the match against Costa Rica proved to be devastating for our ambitions and condemned us to a fiery Tuesday against Uruguay. In Natal, in fact, we will play for everything and it doesn't matter that a draw would qualify us for the next round: it will be a final, full stop. And to think that just one point would have been enough to make the most of the group finale, instead we'll have to play it until the end. Yesterday's match was to blame, never really played by the Azzurri, unable to interpret it from the start and to make it turn around in the second half, with almost compromised games.
We needed a combative Italy from the start, but Costa Rica is playing the game, at least from a tactical point of view. The "ticos" use all their weapons, starting from pressing on the ball holders, which often turn into restarts. To tell the truth, the biggest goal of the first half is ours, but Balotelli devours it after Pirlo throws it on goal face to face with Navas with an oversized lob. It's the beginning of the end, because in the 44th minute Ruiz punishes us with a header that doesn't allow for replies (1-0). The half-brawl that breaks out at half-time is the emblem of Azzurri nervousness: the "ticos" have us in their grip! Prandelli hopes to reverse the trend with Cassano, who comes on for Thiago Motta at the start of the second half for a rather offensive 4-3-3, with Balotelli as central forward and Candreva as a right winger. However, the move doesn't work and the coach soon begins a swirl of substitutions, aimed at changing the inertia of a match that has now been addressed.
Insigne comes on for the Lazio full-back, Cerci takes the place of a distant relative of Marchisio of the hombre del partido seen against England. However, the moves turn out to be useless because Costa Rica holds the field perfectly, making Italy's offensive moves sterile. “It was a game that started badly, the approach was wrong – Prandelli thought at the press conference. – Then we conceded the goal and from the 51st minute we weren't able to shoot on goal. Now we have to recover our energy, it is necessary. This is a difficult group, we knew it and we will play everything against Uruguay. Let's try to recover our energy, it will be fundamental”. In fact, the Azzurri appeared tired, almost emptied by the humid heat of Recife which leveled the values on the pitch more than one could have expected.
The rosy forecasts must be placed in the drawer, Tuesday against Suarez's Uruguay will be a real playoff for the round of XNUMX. “Difficult match, for us and for them – explained Prandelli. – We will have to be prepared nervously and mentally. We have to believe it, we have already faced and beaten Tabarez's team a year ago in the Confederations Cup. This time we will play for qualification, us and them". That's right, the games are still on. The fault of an Italy unable to beat an inferior opponent both technically and tactically, but not from a competitive point of view. We said it, woe to underestimate Costa Rica! Yet it happened, and now all that remains is to remedy against Uruguay. The margin for error has run out, no more mistakes will be allowed on Tuesday. Otherwise the world dream will turn into a nightmare.
