Italy vs Romania
Euro 2008, 18h00
Italy have been torn apart 3-0 by the Netherlands in the first game of this group, while Romania drew 0-0 with France in a very tightly contested feature.
Romania proved to be resilient and very realistic and it's all because of the tactics deployed by the coach, Victor Piturca. He is a shrude tactician, and you get the feeling he's a very lucky man also. Nevertheless, you have to train luck, and he manages to do that, as France only got one shot on goal in a full 90 minutes of play and that was also a very weak go from Benzema from 20 yards out.
Italy is a very troubled team under Donadoni, with the first conflicts between the players and the coach coming through after the first game. Donadoni is also Italy's youngest coach ever and is a non typical one. He likes to field an attacking formation, with 3 players up-front, in contradiction with the most common Italian 4-4-2 tactics, which is so hard to break down.
Romania will start with Lobont; Contra, Tamas, Goian, Rat; Petre, Codrea, Radoi, Chivu, Mutu; D. Niculae. The man to watch will be Fiorentina superstar Adrian Mutu.
Italy will make 5 changes respective to the first match formation: Buffon; Zambrotta, Panucci, Chielini, Grosso; Perrotta, Pirlo, De Rossi; Camoranesi, Toni, Del Piero. The man to watch will be Alessandro Del Piero.
I predict another resilient performance from Romania. Mutu & Co won't lose and this feat is priced at 5/4.