Euro 2012 qualifying preview: Serbia v Italy

Italy may have already secured their place at Euro 2012, but the Serbia side they meet on Friday in Belgrade still have much to play for.

Italy are eight points clear on top of Group C, but Serbia are only one point ahead of third-placed Estonia in the race for the all-important play-off berth.

With Serbia having played one game less than Estonia, a win in Belgrade would secure them a spot in the play-offs, and Juventus midfielder Milos Krasic said the team is in a confident mood heading into the clash.

“Our team will not be scared of Italy even though we know that Cesare Prandelli will be taking the game very seriously,” Krasic told Tuttosport.

Krasic said his team-mates will be inspired after last year’s fixture was abandoned following crowd trouble in Genoa, with Italy awarded the win after UEFA ruled Serbia’s failure to control travelling supporters led to the unsavoury scenes.

“What happened in Genoa will give us extra motivation. It has been a long time since we beat a top team at home and now we have the chance to do just that,” Krasic said.

Prandelli, meanwhile, will be without striker Giampaolo Pazzini and defender Domenico Criscito for the clash.

Pazzini has a heel injury while Criscito will miss out with a groin problem.

“He (Pazzini) is suffering pain again in his heel,” Italian team doctor Enrico Castellacci said.

“We will try to get him ready for one of the two games, that is the one against (Northern) Ireland (in Pescara on Tuesday).”

Striker Giuseppe Rossi, is also in doubt with a knock to his knee, leaving Mario Balotelli, Sebastian Giovinco and Antonio Cassano as the only fit front men in the squad.