Italy are hoping to have Daniele De
Rossi marshalling the midfield again in their Euro 2016
quarter-final against Germany Saturday.
De Rossi returned to training with his Italy team mates on
Friday, spurring hopes the midfielder may be able to play
against the world champions.
De Rossi has been undergoing treatment after straining his
thigh in Monday's 2-0 win over holders Spain.
De Rossi is getting better but he will probably start from
the bench against Germany, Italy coach Antonio Conte said.
"Daniele's condition is OK, let's not stick our necks out.
"We know only too well that we need players at 120% to
play: these are very intense games, you have to be extremely
fit. I am serene in my choices and possible substitutions.
"Matches like tomorrow's are those for which we in
soccer work, train, and live: these are the games that make you
feel great".
Conte said Germany were the "most complete national team in
the world".
He said "at this moment in time they are stronger than
Spain. They've got everything a strong team can have: technique,
talent, physicality, and organisation of play".
Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon said that "this eve has
many similarities with the 2012 semi-final: then, too, we were
second favourites compared to Germany and we had to pull out
something extraordinary to get to the final".
He said "now the gap has probably grown wider, they are
the world champions and have a lot of certainties: we are
seeking those certainties, and we have partly found them".
Germany coach Joachim Loew said that "we have to be
clinical and not make mistakes. We won't have as many chances
against Italy as we did against (Northern) Ireland".
He said "Italy know how to defend, we have analysed our
opponents in detail, we know how to face them. Playing three or
four in defence doesn't matter, the balance of the team counts".
He said "we have always been conscious of our resources, we
have a lot of quality, there is a mix of quality and talent.
They all want to become champions of Europe".
Loew said that "our 4-1 win in March's friendly doesn't
count, Italy is a strong team, we knew that in the Euros we
would meet strong teams. We know how to face Italy."
He went on: "I don't know if De Rossi will play, Italy is
very flexible and is good at pre-match tactics. I always expect
a surprise against Italy. De Rossi is an excellent player, he's
injured but he's very important for Italy, which always finds a
solution".
On Friday Conte's men moved from their base in Montpellier
to Bordeaux, where the match against Germany will take place.
Conte will have to rejig his midfield if De Rossi is not
fit, as his usual understudy in the centre of pitch, Thiago
Motta, is suspended.
Winger Antonio Candreva is still training separately from
the rest of the squad because of a pulled hamstring he suffered
in Italy's 1-0 win over Sweden in the group stage.
The Azzurri are in high spirits after finishing top of
their group with the help of a 2-0 victory over highly fancied
Belgium and then going on to beat Spain in the last 16, their
bugbears in recent tournaments.
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