Betting scandal bodes well for Italy chances

For most teams a domestic match-fixing scandal in the run-up to a major tournament would be seen as a damaging diversion. But for Italy it could be a lucky omen.

Six years ago Italy headed to Germany for the World Cup with their domestic game in turmoil.

The infamous ‘Calciopoli’ had just broken at the end of the season and involved some of the country’s biggest teams. Juventus, Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina were caught up in the affair, meaning many of Italy’s World Cup squad would be directly affected by the issue.

Despite that, the team won through to the final and clinched the title after a penalty shoot-out against France.

Italy’s previous World Cup win, in Spain in 1982, also came on the back of a match-fixing scandal that saw star striker Paolo Rossi banned but able to return in time to score six goals, winning the Golden Boot and Golden Ball in the process.

Only one of the players in Cesare Prandelli’s provisional squad – Domenico Criscito –  was left out after being questioned by police in their investigations.

Issues of national embarrassment aside, Italy’s problems with corruption in football appear to have a unifying effect on the team.

That would be no bad thing with the current batch of players widely regarded as lacking in genuine world-class talent.

Great stars of the past such as Alessandro Del Piero, Francesco Totti and Alessandro Nesta are no longer part of the set-up.

Currently, Italy’s two greatest talents, Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli, are unpredictable firebrands who on their day have the ability to turn matches.

Italy can at least rely on one of the best goalkeepers in the world in Gianluigi Buffon and in front of him Prandelli will likely field two from three Juventus centre-backs, Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini.

Juve had the best defence in Serie A this season and unlike the World Cup two years ago when they also provided the core of the Italy backline, this time they come into the tournament with confidence having won the league.

In midfield, Juve will also provide the two crucial elements, most notably a rejuvenated Andrea Pirlo who has been by far the standout performer in Italy this season.

Claudio Marchisio, alongside him, has come of age and his intelligent infiltrations beyond the defence are a feature exploited well by both Juve and Italy.

With Spain in the same group, the Azzurri won’t start favourites. But they can never be discounted. And if either Cassano or Balotelli can produce something special, with Pirlo’s probing and their general solidity, it would be wrong to write them off.