Italy vs. Croatia: Antonio Candreva Provides Only Fireworks for Dour Azzurri

Having won their first three Euro 2016 qualifying matches, Sunday evening saw Italy’s biggest test to date in a meeting of Group H’s top two sides. Milan’s San Siro was the venue as Nico Kovac’s team—also possessing a perfect record thus far—travelled to face Antonio Conte’s much improved Azzurri.

The former Juventus boss has overseen an impressive turnaround following his appointment, with the team already vastly different from Cesare Prandelli's that was so disappointing at last summer’s World Cup. At the heart of that transformation are a number of his former players—dependable stars the coach knows he can rely upon.

Andrea Pirlo has ended his international retirement to help Conte, rejoining Gigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini and Claudio Marchisio to give Italy a black-and-white spine. But here against Croatia Italy had been robbed of the creativity Pirlo so ably provides, with the bearded genius ruled out last week with an injury.

Their problems were compounded by the loss of Marco Verratti, the Paris Saint-Germain youngster who was sent back to France after failing to overcome a thigh complaint, per ANSA. But someone else who—like Conte—left Turin and is equally responsible for the resurgence of the national team would attempt to step into that void.

Antonio Candreva was selected as part of the central trio, seeking to bring his impressive Lazio form to the Azzurri midfield. He would make an immediate impact, netting a well-taken goal after just 11 minutes and handing his team an early lead against the run of play.

It was simply a continuation of his stellar play so far in 2014-15, with the 27-year-old registering two goals and seven assists in 12 appearances for the Biancocelesti this term. Stefano Pioli has fielded him largely on the right flank, often as far forward as possible in the attacking trident of the coach’s preferred 4-3-3 formation.

Candreva has improved almost beyond recognition since his short spell with Juventus four years ago, developing both his technical ability and tactical intelligence. No longer the naive player he often appeared under Alberto Zaccheroni in Turin, he has shown himself capable of filling a variety of positions for both club and country.

Yet on Sunday, that versatility would appear to have been the undoing of Italy and Conte. Having watched Croatia equalise less than four minutes after Candreva’s fierce strike, both Luka Modric and Manuel Pasqual be substituted due to injuries just before the 30-minute mark.

If the loss of the Real Madrid star was expected to have the greater impact, the replacements were perhaps most indicative of the subsequent performances of the two sides. Croatia were able to call upon Inter’s much admired Mateo Kovacic, with the Azzurri choosing to send on Roberto Soriano of Sampdoria.

While he has been impressive for the Genovese side, Soriano is a functional player and far better at breaking up the opposition's attack than helping create one himself. Conte’s decision to hand him his debut also cost Italy Candreva’s creativity, with the Lazio man shuffling across to right wing-back as part of the reshuffle.

Fully serviceable in that role, Candreva’s loss was clearly felt in midfield where the team’s display represented the trio of players fielded there after Soriano’s introduction. Marchisio and Daniele De Rossi are fine players and comfortable on the ball, but they too are unlikely to create many opportunities for the attacking duo ahead of them.

Mario Balotelli’s injury left Conte with Ciro Immobile and Simone Zaza as his front two, and both players are better at finishing chances rather than making them. The match descended into a dull affair dominated by the visitors, Croatia enjoying no less than 61.9 per cent of possession according to WhoScored.com.

The only fireworks on show at San Siro were those tossed onto the field by the visiting supporters, with their actions causing play to be suspended, according to the UEFA website. Candreva was perhaps the only player to catch the eye for the home side, who at full time will consider themselves fortunate to have escaped with a share of the points.