The first team Italy & Spain met in the group stage, the Azzurri had injury problems at the back which caused Prandelli to switch to a back 3...but now with Chiellini & Barzagli back, who should start?

Chiellini..........Bonucci......Barzagli........Balzaretti (played vs Germany)

Balzeretti.........Chiellini........Barzagli........Maggio

Balzeretti.........Bonucci.......Barzagli........Abate

I go for the first one with Chiellini at Left back & Balzeretti on the right. Bonucci & Balzeretti has been great together in the middle since the Ireland match, & Balzeretti is a complete beast no match which side he plays on & Chiellini just is too good...

Abate-Bonucci-Barzagli-Chiellini

vasanthPato wrote:Abate-Bonucci-Barzagli-Chiellini

Balzeretti has been far more impressive than Abate...

To me its either Maggio-Barzagli-Chiellini-Balzaretti or Maggio-Barzagli-Bonucci-Chiellini. One or the other. Dont know which one though. Bonucci has been.on incredible form, but Chiellini out wide is somewhat wasted, especially against Spain who play mainly through the center except when Alba and Arbeloa push up or when Navas in on the field.

Cotes wrote:

vasanthPato wrote:Abate-Bonucci-Barzagli-Chiellini

Balzeretti has been far more impressive than Abate...

He certainly showed that when Johnson and Milner took Balzaretti to the cleaners against England. He was fantastic against Germany, however one game doesn't make a defender. Consistency is the greatest asset a defender can have and Abate should return to right back if he is available, which he will be.

Whether Balzaretti or Chiellini should play at left back is the major issue in my mind. Barzagli is a certain starter and to my mind it would unjust to bench Bonucci having performed so admirably thus far. A more mobile fullback would ideally be the order of the day against the Spanish, making Criscito's absence particularly painful given that he is the perfect compromise between Chiellini and Balzaretti and highly comfortable on the ball. Chiellini's presence may make us too top heavy and immobile as a unit, whilst Balzaretti lacks his defensive resilience and it is also worth noting that Chiellini's very presence on the pitch lends an air of calm to the rest of the defence, as all great leaders do.

Even mentioning Maggio is ridiculous, he was entirely anonymous in attack during his first two games. His momentum going forward was always the advantage he held over Abate, however lacking this there's no competition as to who is the more accomplished defender at the highest level. Now is not the time to gift someone back their starting spot when others have done well in their position and they failed to grasp their opportunity when the spot was theirs to hold onto.

Simply due to his ability as a leader, even if it's an uncomfortable position for Chiellini to play against a side like the Spanish, I share the opinion of Vasanth.

Whoever starts at the back, I expect De Rossi to often drop deep to form five-man defence, just like he did against Germany.

vasanthPato wrote:Abate-Bonucci-Barzagli-Chiellini

Good choice.

Cotes wrote:The first team Italy & Spain met in the group stage, the Azzurri had injury problems at the back which caused Prandelli to switch to a back 3...but now with Chiellini & Barzagli back, who should start?

Chiellini..........Bonucci......Barzagli........Balzaretti (played vs Germany)

Balzeretti.........Chiellini........Barzagli........Maggio

Balzeretti.........Bonucci.......Barzagli........Abate

I go for the first one with Chiellini at Left back & Balzeretti on the right. Bonucci & Balzeretti has been great together in the middle since the Ireland match, & Balzeretti is a complete beast no match which side he plays on & Chiellini just is too good...

balzaretti had to play in that position because of emergency, otherwise abate is the best RB italy have got...

Abate - Bonucci - Barzagli - Chiellini

3 of them in my fantasy team

OGBONNA

Abate---Bonucci---Barzagli---Chiellini.

Another option could be Chiellini in the middle for one of the two and Balzaretti at LB.

well, everyones got there own opinion...
I been really impressed with Balzeretti...
I been impress with him since the friendly vs Russia...
It was when he, Pirlo & Buffon came off the field & Maggio & De Sanctis decided to self destruct that lost us that match...

All I know, Bonucci & Barzagli have to start in the middle...
I been saying all season, Bonucci is really under-rated & if it was a next team that had a defender who has been has solid has he has this whole tournament, he would've been link to all across Europe with teams by now...