Prandelli wants Italy to handle pressure
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E-mail China Daily, June 12, 2012
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Italian midfielder Thiago Motta sails over Spanish defender Gerard Pique during the teams' Euro 2012 match on Sunday at the Gdansk Arena. Gabriel Bouys / Agence France-Presse |
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli says his team needs to keep cool heads when it is under pressure late in a game.
Italy earned a creditable 1-1 draw with European and world champion Spain in their opening Group C match at the European Championship.
After having the better of the first half, it came under increasing pressure in the second period and at times late on was hanging on by the skin of its teeth.
It took a 61st-minute lead through Antonio Di Natale before Cesc Fabregas equalized three minutes later.
But towards the end of the game it was allowing the Spaniards chances at an alarming rate.
And it is then that Prandelli says he needed cool heads.
"When you're struggling to get hold of the ball you have to be compact and you need reason, not anger," he said.
"When you're tired, those who play with anger get in trouble."
Italy is unlikely to face as stern a challenge in its next two group games against Croatia and then Ireland, but the coach believes his team can still improve.
But mostly, after his players worked so hard against Spain, he wants them to recover before they play Croatia - which opened its campaign with a 3-1 win over Ireland - in Poznan.
"We still have a lot of work to do, we'll analyze this game, every game has its individual story and you need to prepare for it in a certain way," he said.
"I hope we get all our players back to 100 percent."
Although Spain may well be expected to win its next two games, which would make this a point gained for Italy, goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon says it hasn't changed much for his side.
"We played against a very good team, but the result doesn't change much in terms of the table," he said.
"It was a good game, a good result, but the truth is it doesn't change anything from before."
Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque caused a stir by announcing a starting lineup without a recognized forward.
However, Spain did look more dangerous once Fernando Torres had joined the fray in place of Fabregas.
The Chelsea striker missed two clear chances though, the first when he overran the ball to Buffon and the second when he shot instead of playing in the better placed Jesus Navas.
But Torres - who had a torrid time at Chelsea last season - insisted that his mistakes were not due to a lack of confidence and were simply part of football.
"In the first chance (Buffon) was more ready than me, he touched (the ball) with his heel, we see that on the replay, but that's football" said Torres.
"It's unfortunate and we all feel it inside but we hope next time it will go in."
Although he was hoping to start, Torres insisted he was just happy to have some game-time.
"I'm happy for this moment," he said. "I felt good and I hope that I'll play in the next game so that I can do what the boss asks of me and that I can score my first goal in this Euros."
Fabregas admitted he was surprised to be in the first 11, but said he has the ability to play in a variety of positions and therefore he was always hopeful.
"There was always this possibility and I always thought I could play," he said. "I believe I'm able to play in a variety of positions. It was a surprise to see that I was in the 11, but the important thing is the team."
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