Cesare Prandelli defined it “the most difficult match of the round” and he was right. In Recife, Italy lost in an embarassing way against Costa Rica. The only thing in which the Azzurri beated the players of the “pura vida” was in the number of offsides, 11 to be precise.

Since the first half of the match it was quite evident that things did not work out well and starting with a 4-1-4-1 formation was not a great idea apparently.

Wrong changes. Cesare Prandelli broke down the right corridor that worked well against England leaving too much exposed the area left to Abate, who was a weak help to the team.

No game in the halfback. Prandelli saw in Thiago Motta a player who could make a difference. But he didn’t and instead he just slowered the game. Also Daniele De Rossi did an unusual disappointing performance. Not to mention Chiellini who, after a terrible performance as a fullback during the debut of Italy against England, didn’t do better in the center, losing balls easily ripped off by Costa Rica. Only Andrea Pirlo “turned on the light” with some dangerous kicks that made us hold our breath for a few seconds.

What happened to Super Mario? Mario Balotelli seamed to have his mind somewhere else, wasting a few opportunities of marking the so hoped goal. Too many errors for the champion who first got wrong an easy lob and then he saw one of his powerful kicks being stopped by Navas.

The mystery of the penalty. A penalty for Costa Rica caused by Chiellini was not whistled. But there was. The Italian player, after losing the ball, makes a foul against Campbell.

Costa Rica’s goal. Italy was sleeping and Costa Rica didn’t waste its time to mark a goal (42’) and had its revenge. With an almost non existing Italian defense, Diaz crossed the ball to Ruiz who marked the victory point.

During the second half of the game, Prandelli changes the formation: 4-2-3-1 this time, adding Cassano, Insigne and Cerci to the “salad” but leaving alone Balotelli who did not find the miracle.

Italy tries to recover the match. A right kick from Darmian makes everyone hope but unfortunately there was no positive result.

No shots for Italy. The Azzurri of Prandelli continued to pass the ball to each other without creating any conclusive actions.

The “Azzurri” failed during a match that could have been an easy one. Prandelli did not interpreted well the game but hope is the last to die, they say. Now Italy doesn’t have to lose against Uruguay next Tuesday in Natal. The match will be crucial for the “Azzurri”. They need a draw. But if the National Italian team is the same one we just saw in Recife, the day after they will be on a plane off to Italy.