What: 2013 European Under-21 Championship
Who: Israel U21 vs Italy U21
When: Saturday, 8th June, 2013, at 19:30 UK Time
Where: Bloomfield Stadium, Tel-Aviv, Israel
All About Performance For Israeli Coach Guy Luzon
“The good thing is that this is the worst match that we have ever played”, Guy Luzon said after Israel’s 2-2 draw with Norway. But yet Israel and Luzon will reflect on crucial points dropped having led and had a man advantage late on. Israel did score their first goals at an Under-21 Championship and in doing so have given themselves a fighting chance of making it to the last four.
Luzon was left unhappy with his side’s defending and organisation after the Norway draw, and insisted that the performance mattered more than the result. With that in mind, he will be out to make sure that irrespective of the outcome of the meeting with Italy, that Israel give a far better account of themselves in Tel-Aviv.
Israel meet Italy for only the second time in their history – the two sides clashed in the qualifiers for the 2009 finals, with the Italians coming out on top. Compared to the teams they are hosting this month, Israel are lacking in top level experience, and that could ultimately end up being telling. But then again, that inexperience is why they will consider a good performance and respectable outcome more important than the end result in this tournament.
Italy Off To Perfect Start
A wonderful free-kick from Lorenzo Insigne consigned England to defeat and gave Italy the perfect start to this tournament as they go in search of a seventh title. The most successful nation in the history of the Under-21 Championship, the Italians’ current crop look capable of continuing their proud record.
Marco Verratti, as expected, showed why he has been a regular for Paris Saint-Germain since signing at the start of last season, his passing controlling the game for the Italians. Insigne was in inspired form and Fabio Borini looked bright too. With the same kind of performance in Tel-Aviv, Devis Mangia’s side should sweep into the last four in Israel.
Bigger tests will lie ahead for Italy should they as expected make it through. But tournament football is as much about momentum as anything else, and so Mangia will be looking for his team to create a winning mentality and feel good factor as they go in search of the three points.
Recent form
Israel U21:
Israel 1-2 Germany (24/03; Friendly)
Israel 1-0 Slovakia (29/05; Friendly)
Israel 2-2 Norway (05/06; Euro U21)
Italy U21:
Italy 2-0 Russia (22/05; Friendly)
Italy 1-0 Ukraine (25/05; Friendly)
England 0-1 Italy (05/06; Euro U21)
Key absences
Israel: Nir Biton (doubt)
Italy: None
Players to watch
Israel – Mounes Dabour: The build-up to this championship has been marred by accusations of Israeli ill-treatment of Palestinian athletes but the team Luzon has chosen is as multicultural as they come. And few are better prospects than the Israeli Arab forward Mounes Dabour. Used to playing at the Bloomfield Stadium for his club, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, he played an important role in the second goal against Norway in the opener and his 10 goals in the Israeli Premier League last season marked his emergence as one of the brightest prospects for the national side.
Italy – Lorenzo Insigne: The diminutive number 10 was a constant thorn in England’s side in the opening game, his running causing no end of problems to the opposition defenders, whilst his passing and link-up play was superb too. And then there was a fine free-kick to win the game. If Verratti dictates from deep, Insigne controls from the front, and the Napoli man can continue in the same vein against the hosts.
Match Prediction
Italy have not conceded a goal in 2013, but Luzon’s side are certainly spirited and not without talent themselves. Israel have not lost their last three competitive games at Under-21 level, going back to 2011, and will consider a draw a good result.
Going forward Israel will look to Eyal Golasa to pull the strings and provide the passes that can carve open this resolute Italian defence. Dabour and Mohammad Kalibat showed plenty of enterprise and running against Norway in the opener and can threaten Francesco Bardi’s goal.
Both teams like to play good football and attack, but Italy should possess the greater tactical maturity going by the way these sides started the tournament. It is hard to see Israel coping with the running and quality of Borini, Insigne and Ciro Immobile ahead of Verratti. Israel 0-2 Italy.
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