Prandelli: Croatia the real test

ITALY manager Cesare Prandelli believes the big threat to his team’s progress at Euro 2012 will come from Croatia rather than Spain or Ireland.

Italy face the reigning European and world champions Spain on June 10 in Gdansk, with many people seeing that opening match in Group C as decisive. However, Prandelli says that their match against Croatia in Poznan four days later is more of a concern.

“I’ve watched them recently. They’re a talented side,” he said, in an interview with the Gazzetta dello Sport. “They’re quick and modern. It willdefinitely be the toughest game.” That assessment could partly be based on the timing of the matches. Italy may well need a win in that second game against Croatia and will not like the possibility of going into theirfinal game againstIreland needing to win to stay in the competition.