Italy have often played with fire in the past and not least at Spain 1982, when they squeezed through their section with three draws before going on to lift the Trophy thanks to Paolo Rossi’s sudden scoring streak. Their 2010 counterparts may appreciate that omen after kicking off with a pair of draws, but that is where the comparisons end. Marcello Lippi’s side lack the defensive authority of years gone by, with captain Fabio Cannavaro looking vulnerable, while the absence of Andrea Pirlo in midfield means they have struggled to get the ball forward at sufficient speed to feed their strikers. Opponents Slovakia have also failed to impress after their promising qualifying campaign, and it may not take much to get La Nazionale winning again, but their stuttering form has already proved costly. Indeed, even if they win on Thursday, Italy could well have to settle for second spot and a probable Round of 16 date with the Netherlands.
