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KAISERSLAUTERN, June 16: Italy, defeated by unfancied opponents in recent major tournaments, know they must not underestimate the United States on Saturday.
The Italians won their opening Group E game against Ghana 2-0 while Bruce Arena's Americans suffered a 3-0 loss to Czech Republic in their first outing at these finals.
“We can't undervalue the importance of this game,” said Italy forward Alberto Gilardino,
“For the United States it will be the game of their lives given that they lost their opening match against the Czechs and they know that if they mess up again they will be out.
“From our point of view, we have to be focused and very solid in order to get another three points. They are a team that like to keep possession but we have the quality to put them in difficulty,” said the AC Milan striker.
Gilardino was one of the few disappointments in Italy's win over Ghana but is likely to keep his place despite the good form of Vincenzo Iaquinta who scored their second goal on Monday.
The only change Italy coach Marcello Lippi is expected to make will be to bring in fit-again defender Gianluca Zambrotta at right back in place of Cristian Zaccardo.
The US, who reached the quarter-finals four years ago, need at least a point against Italy, who they have never beaten in five attempts, to have any chance of advancing from the group.
“We're not in a coma yet,” said Arena, “We're not going to go with the 3-0 loss game plan. We threw that page away after the game and we'll try to come up with a new one.”
Among the options are to bring in forward Eddie Johnson and midfielder John O'Brien, who played the second half against the Czechs.
The US coach has settled his dispute with midfielder DaMarcus Beasley after they exchanged critical words following the Czech game and the PSV Eindhoven player should start.
Arena's squad are preparing for the game at the vast US air base at Ramstein and there has been an unusually military tone to the build-up with Johnson talking of his experience of meeting veterans of the war in Iraq.
“We're representing our country,” Johnson said. “We know those guys (soldiers) are watching us and following us.”
Italy's Gilardino followed suit on Thursday saying the Azzurri were also playing for their troops in Iraq.
“We know they are watching and we want to put on a good show for them as well. They're fighting every day for Italy.”
Probable teams:
ITALY (4-3-1-2): 1-Gianluigi Buffon; 19-Gianluca Zambrotta, 13-Alessandro Nesta, 5-Fabio Cannavaro, 3-Fabio Grosso; Daniele De Rossi, 21-Andrea Pirlo, 20-Simone Perrotta; 10-Francesco Totti; 9-Luca Toni, 11-Alberto Gilardino.
UNITED STATES (4-4-2): 18-Kasey Keller; 7-Eddie Lewis, 22-Oguchi Onyewu, 23-Eddie Pope, 6-Steve Cherundolo; 15-Bobby Convey, 10-Claudio Reyna, 4-Pablo Mastroeni, 17-DaMarcus Beasley; 21-Landon Donovan, 20-Brian McBride.—Reuters
