Preview: Italy vs. Ghana

GAME DETAILS
Italy vs. Ghana, Hanover, 21:00 CET

THE BIG PICTURE
This game should confound the stereotypes. The popular conception is that Italy are boring and defensive, while all African teams are talented yet lack defensive discipline. The truth is that Marcelo Lippi has the Italians are playing a much less conservative game, and it’s Ghana that have been criticized for being too defensive.

Scout Report – Italy

Strengths – Gianluigi Buffon is among the worlds finest keepers, and has the equally impressive Alessandro Nesta and Fabio Cannavaro in front of him. If playmaker Francesco Totti is fit he’ll be hard to contain, if not Italy can turn to the resurgent Alessandro Del Piero. Talk about options. Up front, Italy have all 6′5″ of Luca Toni to aim for.

Weaknesses – The already infamous Moggi match fixing scandal may be a distraction for the Italians. Or it might not. We’ll see. Two important players (midfield hardman Gennaro Gatusso and versatile full-back Gianluca Zambrotta) will definitely miss this game through injury.

Scout Report – Ghana

Strengths – Michael Essien became the most expensive player in African history when Chelsea paid Lyon £26 million for his services. He’ll be joined in midfield by former Juventus star Stephen Appiah. Roma’s Samuel Kuffour should provide some solidity to the defence. Ghana will play an organized high pressure man-marking system.

Weaknesses – This is Ghana’s World Cup debut, they have the youngest average squad and many players (including Essien) only have a handful of international caps. While keeper Sammy Adjie isn’t necessarily bad, his resume doesn’t stand up well next to the other Group E keepers.

Teams: Likely formation; shirt numbers; caps and goals, coach

Italy (4-3-1-2): 1-Gianluigi Buffon (60-0); 22-Massimo Oddo (20-0), 13-Alessandro Nesta (74-0), 5-Fabio Cannavaro (93-1), 3-Fabio Grosso (17-1); 16-Mauro Camoranesi (21-1), 21-Andrea Pirlo (24-4), Simone Perrotta (24-1); 10-Francesco Totti (51-8); 9-Luca Toni (18-7), 11-Alberto Gilardino (15-7). Coach: Marcello Lippi.

Ghana (4-4-2): 1-Sammy Adjei (31-0); 15-John Paintsil (21-0), 4-Samuel Kuffour (58-3), 5-John Mensah (33-0), 6-Emmanuel Pappoe (27-0); 11-Sulley Muntari (16-5); 8-Michael Essien (17-4), 10-Stephen Appiah (17-4), 18-Eric Addo (6-0); 3-Asamoah Gyan (13-8); Matthew Amoah (16-7) Coach – Ratomir Dujkovic

THE BOTTOM LINE
Bob sez: Italy 2-1
Chris sez: Italy 3-1
Sean sez: Ghana 1-0
Peter sez: 1-1
Nick sez: Italy 2-1

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