Player Focus: In Form Italy Strikers Giving Prandelli Selection Dilemma
When England travel to Brazil the fear and trepidation from the fans when it comes to opposition forwards will likely focus around Uruguay's deadly duo. The prospect of facing Messrs Suarez and Cavani would be enough to put the frighteners up even the hardiest of defences, and the pessimistic of the Three Lions' faithful - of which there are ever-increasing numbers - won't hold out much hope of keeping the South Americans at bay.
Before then, however, they face an Italy side that has, in the past, been renowned primarily for their defensive solidity. While they've had some exceptional attacking players in the past - Baggio, Del Piero and Inzaghi to name a few in recent history - the Azzurri have not always had the most prolific of strikers, on the international front at least.
Indeed, the all-time top scorer for the Italy national team is Luigi Riva, with 35. In comparison, there are five Englishmen to have bettered that record, including current incumbent of the centre forward position Wayne Rooney (38). In all likelihood the top scorer at international level in the Italian squad likely to be heading to the World Cup will be the primarily defensive midfielder Daniele De Rossi, with 15.
In an attempt to add firepower to their attack the Azzurri have at times looked to some old heads in the past. This season there have been persistent mutterings of recalls for the likes of Francesco Totti and Antonio Cassano. There are a number of veteran forwards in Serie A that continue to impress, with the likes of Di Natale and Toni both reaching double figures once again, but in reality Italy need to move on.
Cesare Prandelli will be sweating on the fitness of the likes of Giuseppe Rossi and Stephan El Shaarawy to bolster his front line, with Mario Balotelli perhaps the only certainty - injuries permitting - of out-and-out strikers to make the cut. Torino's Alessio Cerci may also be grouped in the 'forwards' category and seems likely to be on the plane, though there are reasons for optimism for the coach and the fans.
The form of both Ciro Immobile and Mattia Destro in particular has come at a helpful time as Prandelli fine tunes his plans. A match-winning hat-trick from the latter last weekend certainly did his hopes the world of good, while the former netted for the third game running to take his tally to a league-topping 18 for the season (equal with Carlos Tevez). With the duo aged 24 and 23 respectively this may well be an ideal time to blood them into major international competition.
Immobile's performances this season, however, may not be enough to see him pair up with Tevez at Juventus after the World Cup, with the Italian champions reported to be willing to offload their share in the front man. Should he make the squad, he may well be playing for a move elsewhere then, with Borussia Dortmund recently mooted with an interest.
It's little surprise given his goalscoring exploits this season, having proven his ability to find space in the box with intelligent movement after a disappointing campaign with Genoa. A number of his strikes this time around have been those of a true poacher, with his unerring finishing likely to have appeased Prandelli.
The 24-year old's 18 goals have come from 79 shots, and while Immobile is clearly picking up positions on a consistent basis his conversion rate of 22.8% remains very strong. His return in terms of chance creation is modest, with 2 assists from an average of 0.8 key passes per game, but he has the ability to carry the ball forward himself, whilst also having the added bonus of a successful partnership with the increasingly in favour Cerci.
The fact that Mattia Destro is potentially a similar prospect for defences to come up against may well mean that the two are vying for one spot in the squad. The Roma man's return to form and, perhaps more pertinently, fitness has certainly forced his name back into the frame.
Rewind 8 months and the 23-year old became somewhat of a laughing stock, piling on a significant amount of weight after suffering a knee injury that left him out of action over the summer. While he's kept the facial fuzz that didn't exactly aid his dishevelled appearance at the time, Destro has shed the weight and is reaping the rewards.
Though he's perhaps a little less involved in Roma's team play than Immobile at Torino, the former Inter youngster has an even better strike rate. His 13 league goals this term have come from just 19 appearances, of which only 12 have been starts.
With his current goal tally having come from just 37 shots, Destro's conversion rate this season is up at a remarkable 35.1%. It's the best figure in this regard of any player to have registered double figures in Europe's top 5 league this season, of which there are 86. While Immobile ranks a highly respectable 16th in that list, it's interesting that dead last is Mario Balotelli (10.3%), while Alessio Cerci is just two places above (11.9%).
It's perhaps a little unfortunate then that both Destro and Immobile may well be forced to compete for a single spot in the squad when you consider the finishing statistics of the likely shoo-ins ahead of them. It's clear, however, that there are goalscoring options available to Prandelli, and England and co. will need to be wary of as much.
Should either Immobile or Destro, or both, be heading to the World Cup this summer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
Destro has scored 13 goals and averages a goal every 89 MINUTES. that's insane Destro missed half the season through injury, but has already equaled the tally of Balotelli and Llorente. and he's only 1 goal away from equaling the tally of Higuain, who played the entire season Immobile and Destro should go because they're the most in form strikers. Cerci and Balotelli should go because of their ability to dribble and create opportunities Rossi deserves to go as well, but only if he's healthy. otherwise, take one of Toni/Cassano/Totti for experience/creativity in the final third right now, Prandelli is fishing for excuses not to call up Destro. if he calls up Osvaldo or Gilardino, i will NOT be rooting for Italy this summer this coming from an Italian-American
No matter which striker Prandelli will pick. Italy must be ready to shuffle the pack up front as it cant be always Balotelli who starts. Its clear that he doesnt offer anything in the defensive phase + how many games he needs to pick up a suspension? Immobile & Cerci are already a lethal duo and Italy would do well in a 352/532 formation. (Euro'12 proved it) It leaves Destro and Toni for the last spot. Destro is in-form now like Roma but he'll miss the next 4 games whereas Toni has different values to the players on the plane and that precious experience. Hopefully we dont have to see Gila and Osvaldo in Brazil.
Prandelli is quite an idiot. He'll bring Osvaldo and Gilardino instead of these two. It's for the same reason he favors Montolivo over Verratti.
Great return from Destro, all the more impressive when you consider that none of his 13 league goals have been from the penalty spot this season.
Destro should be going, great player and could cause England some problems
The situation is not happy as it seems. Balotelli is a cunt, I would never bring him in the national team, but he's a great talent and we all hope he turns into a champion. Like he did against Germany. Immobile scores a lot but at a closer look is not useful in a top quality tournament because he misses several changes and fails often in the other aspect of the game. Rossi is the best option but we'll see how he is recovering for June, to me he wouldn't arrive fit enough for the competition. Gilardino is simply not good enough. The best forwards to choose are Toni, in a good form and a goalscoring machine that knows has to play a world cup; destro, clearly the best striker in the last weeks; and maybe balotelli... Cerci, cassano and the others are wingers or second strikers, a different matter. A good jolly for me would be Manolo gabbiadini, he's the best young striker in Italy, lethal in the centre forward position but unfortunately all the coach made him play RW.
Italy should perhaps take 5 Strikers, Cerci, Balotelli, Immobile, Destro and Rossi. With probably Destro most likely to lose his place considering Cerci and Immobile are a very successful strike partnership. On a another note considering this is Totti's last international tournament they may offer him the chance to go out at the top.