Italy must find a way to shut down Uruguay striker Luis Suarez when the teams clash at the Dunas arena today in a showdown which will decide who goes through to the last 16.
Uruguay, semi-finalists four years ago, will arrive in Natal on an almighty high after Luis Suarez’s double strike beat England and eased the pain of their opening 3-1 loss to Costa Rica – a match their totemic striker missed as he recovered his fitness.
Italy also lost 1-0 to Costa Rica but their opening victory over England means the four-times World Cup winners need a point from the fixture, while twice champions Uruguay must win because of their inferior goal difference.
If there was any team you would back to shackle a goalscoring phenomenon, it would probably be Italy but they will need to be at their miserly best at the back to deny Suarez and his strike partner Edinson Cavani.
“They are a very strong combination in attack,” Italy captain and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon told reporters.
“This is not something we’re discovering now. They’ve established their reputation as a duo for Uruguay and on their own for their clubs.”
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli will almost certainly have to change his team with defensive midfielder Daniele De Rossi highly unlikely to play because of a leg injury.
Praised for his positive 4-1-4-1 system after the victory over England, and then pilloried for the same tactics after the Costa Rica defeat, Prandelli might switch to a 3-5-2 formation for the Uruguay clash.
Mario Balotelli would retain his place up front with the in-form Ciro Immobile joining him in a gamble on an untested strike partnership.
“It would be a novelty, with all the benefits and risks that are associated with that,” said Buffon.
“If this choice is made, what happens on the field will tell us if it was the right decision.”
With Suarez already confirmed as fit to play by the Uruguay team doctor despite pre-tournament knee surgery, and captain Diego Lugano still an injury doubt, coach Oscar Tabarez could stick with the same line-up that beat England.
He will be looking for another energetic performance from midfielders Alvaro Gonzalez and Nicolas Lodeiro, who he brought into the side after the lacklustre display against Costa Rica.
Italy and Uruguay played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in the Confederations Cup in Brazil last year with the Italians claiming a third-place play-off win by 3-2 in a penalty shootout.
Buffon, who saved three penalties in that shoot-out, believes how well Italy recover from their disappointing defeat by the Costa Ricans will go a long way to deciding whether the Azzurri progress.
“When you come from a defeat like that,” the 36-year-old said, “you’ve got to find the energy over the next few days to put things right.
“When we’re facing a challenge, that’s when we respond best.”
Key statistics
• The first World Cup meeting between Italy and Uruguay took place in the group round in 1970 and ended in a 0-0 draw.
• In both of their two prior meetings in the World Cup, Uruguay failed to score.
• This is Uruguay’s 50th game in the World Cup. Their first was a 1-0 win over Peru played on July, 18 1930 in Montevideo.
Previous meetings
• This is the 10th meeting between the teams. Uruguay lead three wins to two with the remaining matches ending in draws.