England will face Italy in Kiev, Ukraine on June 24, 2012 in probably the most intriguing of the Euro 2012 quarterfinal ties.Clashing for the first time in more than a decade, England have met Italy only twice at major tournaments with the Italians winning a 1980 European Championship group game 1–0 in Turin, Italy and a 1990 World Cup third-place playoff 2–1 in Bari, Italy.
Both teams, enjoying unbeaten runs in competitive fixtures lasting 11 and 13 games respectively, are built on sound defense and counter-attack.
Both use flexible versions of 4-4-2 and have thoughtful and pragmatic managers in Roy Hodgson and Cesare Prandelli.
Rooney's return has added threat to England's attack without disturbing a smothering system that has earned Hodgson — whose peripatetic career has included two spells at Inter Milan — the soubriquet 'the English Italian,' after he was praised as "intelligent, clever, experienced and cunning" by Mancini in La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Prandelli, like Hodgson, has kept his cards close to his chest on whether he will retain the 4-3-1-2 system used to defeat Ireland or revert to a three-man defense adopted in the previous group games.
He must also decide whether to continue with Antonio Di Natale as the main striker or recall Balotelli to face his club-mates Joleon Lescott and Hart. Midfielder Thiago Motta is a slight doubt with a hamstring strain.
Fullbacks Ignazio Abate and Federico Balzaretti are expected to keep their places while central defender Leonardo Bonucci is set to start in place of the injured Giorgio Chiellini.
England are expected to be unchanged.
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