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MANCHESTER - Agence France-Presse

Italy’s forward Stephan El Shaarawy (C) takes the ball during the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 Group A football match against Italy, at the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador, on June 22, 2013. AFP photo

Weakened by injury and chastened by the memory of a crushing loss to the same opponents 12 months ago, Italy have vowed to use their imagination when they meet Spain in tonight’s Confederations Cup semifinal.

The match at Fortaleza’s Estadio Castelao is a repeat of last year’s Euro 2012 final, when Spain cruised to a 4-0 win to claim an unprecedented third consecutive major international title.

Having swept through the group phase at the Confederations Cup with three consecutive wins, the world and European champions were the favourites to advance to the final even before Italy’s injury problems struck.

Right-back Ignazio Abate and key striker Mario Balotelli have both been ruled out of the tournament, although midfielders Riccardo Montolivo and Andrea Pirlo are both expected to feature against Spain.

Pirlo missed Saturday’s 4-2 loss to Brazil with a calf injury, while Montolivo took a blow to the head in the same game, but both players have since resumed training.

Balotelli’s early departure from the tournament with a thigh injury is a heavy blow, the AC Milan striker having emerged in the last 12 months as coach Cesare Prandelli’s most important attacking player.

Experienced Bologna striker Alberto Gilardino is in line to deputise.

In the expectation that Spain will dominate possession as they habitually do, Prandelli has stated that Italy may have to do “something innovative” tactically.

Italian media reports suggest the former Fiorentina manager will deploy a compact 3-5-2 formation, with an all-Juventus back three of Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli.

The system helped Italy stymie Spain in their opening match at Euro 2012, which ended in a 1-1 draw, and when Prandelli reverted to a four-man defence in the final, his team were swept aside.

Although the two teams remain similar in terms of both style and personnel to the sides that faced off at Kiev’s Olympic Stadium, Spain defender Sergio Ramos says it does not necessarily follow that tonight’s game will produce a similar outcome.

“We’ve practically kept the same style of play and the same players, and so have they, so they’re fairly similar to us in that respect,” said the Real Madrid center back.

“They have young players and veterans, and they’re extra motivated because they’re out for revenge.

“At stake is the final of an important competition, and everyone dreams of playing in a final at the Maracana.
“Italy have a very strong competitive mentality and have always shown that, despite their last result against us.”