Spain vs Italy International Friendly 5 March 2014

Spain vs Italy - Competition: International Friendly
Match date: 5 March 2014 - Kick Off Time: 21:00 GMT
Venue: Estadio Vicente Calderon, Madrid 
 

Spain will be looking to bounce back after their last result which saw them lose to a very average South African team 1-0 in South Africa. Italy will be also looking to bounce back after drawing their last four matches to Nigeria, Germany, Armenia and Denmark
The reigning World Champions had a pretty easy time of things in their Brazil 2014 qualification group. They topped the group with six wins and two draws in their group. Their nearest challenger was France, but a composed 1-0 win in Paris by Spain gave them the edge in the group.
Italy cruised their qualification group for the 2014 World Cup, with six wins and four draws in their ten games.
Fabregas, Xavi and Sergio Ramos are unlikely to start having missed some training this week, but Iker Casillas is expected to keep his place in the starting line-up. Anyway, the most notable call up for Vincente Del Bosque and his Spanish side is the prolific Ateltico Madrid forward Diego Costa.

• Probable lineups Spain: Casillas – Juanfran, S. Ramos, Albiol, Jordi Alba – Busquets, Alcantara – Iniesta, Navas, Silva – Diego Costa.

Italy team have Giuseppe Rossi who injured his knee last month out injured while De Rossi has been dropped after he was caught by television cameras punching Inter's Mauro Icardi. Balotelli is injured too while  Chiellini is unlikely to feature as he carried a calf problem. Osvaldo, Insigne, Destro and De Sciglio should be in contention after shaking off minor knocks. Uncapped Torino striker Ciro Immobile could feature after scoring 13 Serie A goals this season.
Wednesday night’s game from Estadio Vicente Calderon will become the 33rd meeting between the two nations over the years. Spain have secured 11 wins (8 at the Estadio Vicente Calderon), Italy have secured 10 victories (1 at the Estadio Vicente Calderon) and there has been 11 draws, (5 at the Estadio Vicente Calderon).

• Probable lineups Italy: Buffon – Abate, Barzagli, Bonucci, Criscito – Veratti, Marchisio, Montolivo, Pirlo – Osvaldo, Gilardino.

Spain vs Italy Team Form:

Spain
19 Nov 2013    South Africa 1 - Spain 0    FR
16 Nov 2013    Equatorial Guinea 1 - Spain 2    FR
15 Oct 2013    Spain 2 - Georgia 0    WCQE
11 Oct 2013    Spain 2 - Belarus 1    WCQE
10 Sep 2013    Spain 2 - Chile 2    FR
Italy
18 Nov 2013    Italy 2 - Nigeria 2    FR
15 Nov 2013    Italy 1 - Germany 1    FR
15 Oct 2013    Italy 2 - Armenia 2    WCQE
11 Oct 2013    Denmark 2 - Italy 2    WCQE
10 Sep 2013    Italy 2 - Czech Republic 1    WCQE

You can watch the match here: Link 1 , Link 2 [Live Scores]

Categories: International Friendly