Something far more important than Juventus-Naples is up for grabs tonight: the challenge between Italy and Denmark, the fourth qualifying match for the World Cup in group B, which sees the Azzurri in first place with 7 points (and the Scandinavians already spaced at 2, but have only played two games), can really bring Prandelli's national team closer to Brazil 2014.
Therefore, at least for one evening, it is right to get out of the confines of our backyard and the big match on Saturday, which filled the blue retreat with many tensions, can wait: in fact, by winning at the San Siro against Bendtner and partners, Italy would reach 10 points, and taking advantage of the direct confrontation between the pursuers Czech Republic and Bulgaria could really be considered fleeing for South America.
Mario Balotelli will make his grand return to the Milanese stadium, absent in Armenia due to the flu, while the current landlord, the Nerazzurri Antonio Cassano, was excluded from the call-ups, however taking it ironically in his television hosted by Fabio Fazio: "I've missed two World Cups so far, patience, I'll miss the third".
Gigi Buffon will not be on the field either, which after silly controversy these days on his possible forfeit (which is arousing many suspicions around Naples) he seemed to have recovered from the slight ailment he suffered in Yerevan, and instead the decisive audition had a negative result: therefore the Neapolitan De Sanctis will defend the blue goal.
So SuperMario Balotelli is back and does it in couple (unpublished) with the Romanist Osvaldo: heavy attack therefore for Cesare Prandelli, for the first time in the two years of his management, including the European Championship, during which he always seems to have preferred technique and speed. "I want the three points, the quality of the game takes a back seat", declared this time the coach from Brescia, visibly irritated after the criticism of his national team for the match in Armenia, actually not the best but all in all won by 3 -1.
"No team in the world, except Spain, is capable of dictating the law in every match", thundered the national Cesarone, who also recalled how Italy's group is one of the most balanced: "Bulgaria and Armenia will also be in the game, like us, the Czechs and the Danes."
About Spain, mentioned by the coach, tonight among other qualifying matches the big match between Roja champion of everything in the last 4 years and Deschamps' France stands out, a challenge that the transalpine press has already renamed "Mission impossible". It is played at the Vicente Calderòn in Madrid, Atletico's den, and the Iberian victory despite the prestigious opponent is given at 1,42. Italy's odds against Denmark are higher: 1,55.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS (20,45 pm, Giuseppe Meazza stadium, Milan)
ITALY (4-4-2): Buffon; Abate, Barzagli, Chiellini, Balzaretti; De Rossi, Pirlo, Marchisio, Montolivo; Balotelli, Osvaldo.
DENMARK (4-4-2): Andersen; Jacobsen, Kjaer, Agger, Wass; Kvist, Kristensen, Eriksen, Rommedahl, Bendtner, Krohn-Dehli.
