January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Place your bet on Italy
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Neither side has been too hot in this competition so far, but Italy will surely feel they will beat dark horses Ukraine.
They've got to the quarters, but who have they actually beaten? Tunisia and Saudi Arabia. They have looked completely lacking in inspiration in the midfield and even Schevchenko has been comparatively quiet. Italy have been solid but unspectacular. They will look to Gattuso and Pirlo to dictate the midfield and hope that stand-in centre-half Andrea Barzagli can compensate for the absence of Nesta and Materazzi. So far the Italians have the best defensive record in the competition having conceded just once — and even then it was an own goal.
Much of that is down to kepper Buffon. How much he will be tested today remains to be seen but Maksim Kalinichenko appears to be the key man in the Ukranian midfield.
It probably won't be the game of the tournament, but Italy should edge in to the semis.
Injury Report: Alessandro Nesta is still out for Italy, Marco Materazzi and Danieli De Rossi are suspended. Voronin misses out for Ukraine.
Top Scorers: Several (Ita) 1; Schevchenko (Ukr) 2
Key men: Pirlo (Ita) Schevchenko (Ukr)
Head-to-head: Played 3, Italy wins 2, Draws 1
World Cup Form Guide: Italy: WDWW, Ukraine: LWWD
Sea Horses Odds: 2/7, Ukraine 11/4
BDA Sun prediction: Italy 2, Ukraine 0[[In-content Ad]]
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