Part 3 - Top 10 players to look out for in mid-week friendly matches
6. Sebastian Giovinco
Touted up as the next Francesco Totti, Sebastian Giovonco has seen a potentially world class career gone to waste so far. Italy has a history of producing quality talent when it comes to attacking third of the field. In the past two decades, the likes of
Roberto Baggio, Filippo Inzaghi, Alessandro Del Piero and Francesco Totti have all embraced the Azure shirt and played their hearts out with it. Now it is time for the next generation of Italian maestros to come forward with their respective capabilities.
Heading that line of talent is indeed Giovonco.
The man who is known in Italy as “Formica Atomica” is an exceptional talent in all sense of the word. His introduction in the Italian national team will no doubt spur veterans such as De Rossi. It might be a lot to say that Giovinco holds the key
to Italy’s future in international football but it is justifiable in Formica Atomica’s case. Giovinco has never represented Italy at the senior team level but he played in Italy’s campaign for the 2008 Olympics. In 2008, Juventus’ youthful midfielder
also played in the Toulon tournament where he was eventually given the award of being the tournament’s most valuable player.
Giovinco might start for Italy mid-week against Germany and his partnership with Antonio Cassano in Italy’s attacking line up can be devastating for their opponents on Wednesday night. The 24 year old who is currently on loan to Parma has already netted
five goals in 18 appearances in the 2010-2011 Serie A season.
5. Javier Pastore
Argentina’s equivalent of Germany’s Mesut Ozil, Pastore, went to the 2010 World Cup with the South American giants but hardly saw any first team action. He was thrown into the fray by Argentina’s ex-manager, Diego Maradona, in the final minutes of Argentina’s
four goal loss to Germany in the quarterfinal of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. However, Pastore’s form for Palermo in the 2010-2011 Serie A season has been outstanding. He has scored nine goals for the Italian club in just 24 appearances.
In light of his excellent form for Palermo, Pastore has been called up for Argentina’s squad in their mid-week friendly match against Portugal. The spotlight during the match will be on Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi but Pastore has a chance to snatch
the headlines for sure.
Nicknamed, El Flaco, due to his skinny physique, Pastore makes up for what he lacks in muscle in his technique. In 2010, Javier received the award of being Serie A’s young footballer of the year as he was a consistent performer for Palermo in the
2009-2010 season. The Argentinean playmaker is already under the radar of Manchester United and Chelsea along with other big names in European football. Pastore is potentially an ideal trequartista for Argentina with defensive shields such as Javier Mascherano
and Esteban Cambiasso already available for selection, Pastore can excel to great heights for
La Albiceleste.
Sergio Batista has been tasked with making Argentina into a cohesive football unit before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The South American giants will be hoping that Pastore lives up to the hype. These hopes will be put to test in Argentina’s mid-week tie
against Portugal.
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