Thaindian News

Warsaw, June 28 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Keeping hold of the ball will negate Germany’s main tactic of pinning Italy back inside their half, Italian coach Cesare Prandelli said ahead of their Euro 2012 semifinal in Warsaw Thursday.

“We are convinced we can play our own game, so we are very calm in this perspective,” Prandelli said.

“The only thing we’ve got at our disposal is that we can keep the ball. If they push us high up the pitch then our only way out is to keep the ball.”

“Tomorrow, Germany will press us very high up the pitch and we need to make sure we keep the ball to counteract this,” he said.

In Andrea Pirlo, Daniele de Rossi and Claudio Marchisio, Italy have the ideal midfield trio - “one of the best midfields in Europe” - to take care of the task against the ruthless Germans, Prandelli said.

“They know where to press, we’ve seen it before in other games at these championships,” he said.

Three-time European champions Germany have won five of their six semifinals at the Euros down the years, but have never beaten 1968 winners Italy in a competitive match.

–IANS/RIA Novosti
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