Three of a kind

Midfield battle is always the key in football and the teams which stamp their authority in the center of the park generally go on to win the match. This is the reason why teams are so keen to pack their midfield in order to avoid being out numbered by the opposition.

We are fortunate enough to have the likes of Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Buquests, Martinez, Luis Gustavo, Schwenistieger, Kroos, Modric and others in the World Cup but for me, it’s Italy’s trio of Pirlo, De Rossi and Veratti which forms the best midfield among all the teams.

Italy might not be the favourites for many but their discipline and excellent work ethic makes them extremely hard to beat. I’m keen to discuss Italy’s trio of midfield because all of these three players possess great all-round ability.

In De Rossi, they have a strong individual who makes tackles, breaks play and shields the back four. The Roma man has a great long ball in him and he isn’t afraid to shoot from distance either. He has been a seasoned campaigner who has developed into a complete midfielder.

Andrea Pirlo doesn’t need any introduction. Even at 35, he is the heart and soul of this Italian side. As an opposition, you know that you can’t let him roam around the park because he sees a pass and he can can destroy you with his creative instincts. He pulls the strings alongside De Rossi and he has great positional sense.

De Rossi and Pirlo are partnered by PSG’s Marco Veratti. For a guy who is only 21 years old, he has shown great maturity and has benefited playing with his the two highly experienced team mates. He breaks play, he sees a pass and he is a willing runner who shows great energy.

The strong point of this trio is that all of them are willing to do the dirty work, make tackles and bring the ball forward. They have managed to develop a great understanding with each other and they make me believe that it Italy will be a tough nut to crack during this World Cup.