Italy’s task in tonight’s FIFA Confederations Cup semi-final clash is clearly an unenviable one. The Azzurri are up against the European and world champions and, worse, they have to do the difficult job with a depleted squad at the Fortleza, Brazil (kick-off time: 8pm Nigerian time).

The match brings back memories – for Italy, a sad one – of the 2012 UEFA European final in June last year in which they were mercilessly thrashed 4-0. It was the Italians’ biggest loss in a final to date and their task tonight and coach Cesare Prandelli has found himself in a difficult situation, having been forced to send the Milan duo of Ignazio Abate (dislocated shoulder) and Mario Balotelli (thigh strain) back to Italy, while both playmakers in Riccardo Montolivo and Andrea Pirlo are in doubt.

As one analyst put it: “Having built a match-winning squad around the quartet, it will be a tall ask for the four times World Champions to do the business on a side simply exuding confidence and prestige on the ball.”

But then this is football!

•Photo: Spanish striker Fernando Torres.