Italy heavy favorites against Ukraine in World Cup quarterfinals
Ukraine have reason to be proud, reaching the quarterfinal round of the World Cup in their first foray into the competition. However, the end of their run is nigh because Italy lie in weight in Hamburg on Friday.
Oleg Blokhin has done extremely well in guiding the eastern European side this far. Their defence looked disastrous when beaten 4-0 by Spain in their opening group game, but they have tightened up subsequently and appear to be a far more organised unit now.
But, it has to be said, they lacked any real penetration in their last 16 encounter with Switzerland, a game they eventually won on penalties. In fact, the game on the whole 
was tantamount to watching paint dry in terms of its entertainment value, and one suspects that the Italians will prove far too strong on Friday.
It wasn’t until deep, deep into stoppage time that Marcello Lippi’s men managed to bring the curtain down on Australia’s tournament. In fact, it was the 95th-minute when Francesco Totti rifled home a potentially spuriously-gained penalty kick.
However, the Soccerroos are probably an underrated side in world football, and while Italy would have been expected to have outpointed them within 90 minutes and by scoring from open play, it was never going to be an easy match and it is to the Azzurri’s credit that they displayed the requisite tenacity to emerge victorious. The Italy side of the 2002 World Cup Finals may not have had the gumption to grind out the desired result.
Alessandro Nesta is likely to miss the match after a troublesome groin injury has flared up again, while his replacement in the Australia game, Marco Materazzi, is suspended after picking up a red card during that last 16 match.
These absentees leave Lippi short of options in defence, but Palermo defender Andrea Barzagli, who came on as a substitute against Australia, is likely to step into the breach to partner captain Fabio Cannavaro in the centre of defence. This duo should have enough about them to repel a Ukranian strikeforce that hasn’t looked too hot in their last couple of games, albeit one which contains Andriy Shevchenko, and therefore shouldn’t be underestimated.
Indeed, defensively Italy have proven themselves to be solid in this tournament – they have conceded just once in their four matches thus far – and that was an own goal. Their midfield is one of the best in terms of its aptitude for defending, while players like Andrea Pirlo and Totti remain an ever-present threat when in attack mode.
And then there were eight! It’s all the usual suspects – Brazil, England, Germany, Argentina, Italy, etcetera – in fact, all but Ukraine are world soccer giants. It’s the quarterfinals! Get your World Cup odds at the Bodog Sportsbook!
World Cup Game Prediction: BET on Italy to win, 2-0.
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[...] The winner awaits a mouthwatering World Cup semifinals game against Italy or Ukraine. Take your pick: Germany vs Italy or Argentina vs Italy? Cmon, Ukraine’s Cinderella story will come to an end. The other side of the draw favors a semifinal matchup between Brazil vs England. Yes, the defending champions vs the birthplace of modern football. [...]