Italy coach Marcello Lippi is still thinking about his World Cup formation after seeing his side beat Guateng All Stars 6-0 in Friday’s warm up clash before they take on Paraguay on
Monday.
According to Goal.com Italy, during the game Lippi used a standard 4-3-3 for almost an hour of play before switching to a 4-2-3-1 system for the final 30 minutes. They were 4-0 up within the hour before the coach started to make changes to his line-up.
Andrea Pirlo and Daniele De Rossi were missing. The Milan man is still nursing a calf injury, where as the Roma midfielder complained of a calf problem.
Simone Pepe and Giampaolo Pazzini both scored twice before Vincenzo Iaquinta and Antonio Di Natale scored the a goal a piece.
The initial starting XI against Guateng was: Buffon, Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Chiellini, Criscito; Gattuso, Montolivo, Marchisio; Iaquinta, Pepe, Gilardino.
It’s an indication of the side that could play against Paraguay, though De Rossi is likely to come in place of Gattuso on Monday.
There is also speculation from Centurion that Lippi could deploy a 4-4-2.
His standard back four are most likely to be Zambrotta, Bonucci, Cannavaro and Chiellini on the left, not his natural position, but one he has been taking lessons in over the last several days.