Hungary wary of imposing Italy

Hungary are aiming to counter the physical threat posed by a strong Italy squad ahead of the sides' meeting in the first 2007/08 UEFA European Under-19 Championship semi-final in Plzen.

Contrasting campaigns
The teams booked their places in the last four in contrasting fashion, Hungary – in their first U19 finals – overcoming both Bulgaria and holders Spain 1-0 to secure progress with a match to spare before concluding their Group A campaign with a 2-1 defeat by section winners Germany on Sunday. Italy took time to hit their stride, drawing against Greece and England, but a pulsating 4-3 victory against hosts the Czech Republic in their last fixture took them through as winners of Group B. Hungary know they have every reason to be wary at the Struncovy Sady Stadion.

'Big fight'
"We've watched Italy and physically they're very strong, particularly in one-on-one situations, and it will be a big fight," goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi told uefa.com. "The stronger team will win and that's what we will have to prepare for. Maybe their style of play is a bit like Bulgaria – of course they have better players but they play in quite a similar fashion as they try to get the ball wide and put crosses in. Spain and Germany tried to play on the floor more but Italy play long passes towards the forwards so we have to be ready for that and prepared to fight for the second balls."

'Extra motivation'
Gulácsi sat out the Germany loss as Hungary made seven changes in a bid to keep players fresh for the semi-final but is set to return despite a fine display from his understudy Péter Pokorni on Sunday. "I like problems like this – it's a luxury to have the chance to choose between two really good players," said coach Tibor Sisa, who will recall the likes of Vlagyimir Komán and Krisztián Németh to his side, although forward András Simon is suspended. "I've studied Italy a lot and we'll be well-prepared. To be in the semi-final gives everyone extra motivation and I expect it to be an exciting match."

Room for improvement
Italy are without Andrea Mazzarani after the midfielder's red card against the Czechs, although centre-back Matteo Gentili is available again having served his own ban. "We can improve and we must be better against Hungary," coach Francesco Rocca told uefa.com, with a fully-fit squad at his disposal and having shifted his sights after already guiding Italy to a place in the 2009 FIFA-U20 World Cup. "We have achieved one target by reaching the semi-final and the World Cup, now we want the other which is to win the trophy."

'Feet on the ground'
The Azzurrini made a slow start to their campaign, only rescuing a point in their first match thanks to Alberto Paloschi's 89th-minute penalty, yet their coach is quietly confident that the groundwork laid by ten days of pre-finals training is paying off in the steady improvement Italy have shown. "All three games and performances have been different, but we have been taking it step by step and have improved physically with each match. We will definitely be better again against Hungary, because that is the way we have prepared for the tournament, but we respect the opposition and are keeping our feet on the ground."