Italy renewal

This new Italy team needs to grow into itself. We knew that before the friendly against the Ivory Coast, and the match itself in London brought this fact home loud and clear. They need to mature in attack, and the long-awaited Amauri-Balotelli-Cassano trio needs a little tweaking. And they need to do it quickly , because Prandelli seems keen on pinning the team's hopes on them, especially on the talent of the Inter ace and Sampdoria star. They'll get a chance to improve after their first technical tests in Coverciano and Upton Park, when they'll have more fuel in their legs and more of a feeling for each other. But there's room for improvement in other departments as well, in this new Italy team. They struggled to take control on the wings at the top of the field and further back midfield, the kind of skill that the new coach has been asking for.

Full backs —
Zambrotta and Grosso are not part of this new Azzurro team on account of their age. They've given a lot to the Azzurro cause over the years. It's now time for some new blood that will do the same. But finding it is not easy, although Prandelli is trying. He played two new new entries: Motta on the right and Molinaro on the left. The Juventus player struggled in defence, but proved a serious threat when he moved forward: he made it closest to goal, hitting the post while Molinaro did his job. You couldn't really ask anymore from them on their first game as Azzurri. As for future games, there's not really many other alternatives: there's Criscito, currently injured, who played on the first team at the World Cup. He did himself proud but still needs to learn to assert himself: but he's got age on his side. Milan player Antonini, an alternative in this department, was included in the national squad for the first time, but ended up on the bench. De Ceglie may also be another option if he makes the most of his full-time post with Juventus. Just like Balzaretti. On the right there's Cassani, a reliable playmaker, and Maggio, who in some respects is similar to Motta: he's better at offending than defending. Not forgetting Santon too, who needs to get back to his best. To sum up, on the wings in defence, we're missing Maicon and Lahm, but in their place there are a couple of young players who could, or rather, must develop.

PIRLO'S Deputy — With no Pirlo the team is just not the same. The World Cup was clear proof of this where Montolivo was one of the few positive notes in the team. But the Milan playmaker is a one in a million: when he came on against Slovakia the team immediately gained in personality and in vertical passes towards the goal. Pirlo didn't play last night in London, he's still not in perfect shape, but he'll be back for September in Tallin, for the euro 2012 qualifier. But he won't be around for ever, and without him, Italy is really struggling in it's playmaking: De Rossi is the superstar centre back with a talent for playmaking too, just like Palombo, but the duo who quite capably putt up such a strong barrier in defence that Prandelli was able to field 4 players in attack - (Pepe, Cassano, Balotelli and Amauri) obviously don't have the same wizardry as a classic playmaker, which would be just what the strikers need. Prandelli knows Montolivo well, and he'll give him the space he deserves, although he doesn't really have that many other alternatives with the same kind of abilities. D’Agostino is a possible option, along with Marchisio who is a natural inside wing but is currently being fielded as midfielder in the the preseason matches, but could also act as playmaker while still providing some defensive cover. Or else there's the nationalized Ledesma. Prandelli - who could get round the problem by fielding a playmaker that has enough finishing skills as well if he keeps going with the 4-2-3-1 (Cassano at the moment and who know's in the future, maybe Giovinco?) - hopes that the season will offer him some new options. Because you can never have too many good players midfield: Spain showed us that at the World Cup.