Prandelli hones in on Spain's 'weak points'
Reuters - Friday 29 June 2012, 15:12
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli
said he will hone in on Spain's weaknesses in the short time he
has to prepare his team for Sunday's Euro 2012 final.
The Italians beat Germany 2-1 on Thursday and have a day
less than the Spaniards, who beat Portugal on Wednesday, to get
ready for the clash at Kiev's Olympic Stadium.
"I hope to be able to prepare in the best way possible for
the match even if we only have a day to get ready," Prandelli
told a news conference on Friday.
"We will look for Spain's weak points and work on those
areas, even if it won't be easy because they are the world and
European champions and here they are in the final again.
"That shows that their qualities aren't just in terms of
technique but also on the level of morale and character. They
are a reference point in many different ways but we have also
improved with time.
Two goals from Mario Balotelli gave Italy victory over the
Germans in Warsaw and secured them a place in the final that few
had predicted prior to the tournament.
Prandelli has been credited with forging a strong team
spirit and implementing a progressive approach to play while not
having a squad with the kind of big names that have been
available to previous Italian coaches.
Despite the praise though Prandelli, who has a contract
until 2014, has said that he will consider his future after the
tournament, a theme he returned to on Friday.
"I've always said that my quality of life has improved a lot
but in the last two months it has been a struggle, aside from
the excellent rapport I have with the team and with the
federation," he said.
"They have been two tough months and so there hasn't been
the serenity that I look for."
Asked whether those words meant he would be leaving the job
after the tournament, Prandelli said, "I was just talking about
my quality of life, later I will make my evaluation but I don't
want to talk about that now, we will deal with that in three
days time," he said.