Brazil vs Italy

Brazil are being tipped as favourites for what the press have dubbed "the World Derby". The World Champions 2002 will square off with the World Champions 2006. Should Italy avoid defeat tonight at the Emirates Stadium they will set a new world record of 32 international games unbeaten - a statistic meticulous mastermind Marcello Lippi will be all to aware of. Dunga and Brazil will look to play their usual free-flowing samba football to light up a murky London sky - hoping to add to the 16 goals they've scored in their last 6 games. Italy have scored just 9 in their last 6 games but can rely on their ever-ready defense to bail them out of sticky encounters.
Kaka and Luis Fabiano will miss out through injury whilst Amauri has been blocked from participating by Juventus (boo). Pato and Ronaldinho will likely be handed starts whilst Gilberto Silva could have a North London reunion.
For the Champions, Daniele De Rossi may have to sit this game out whilst Gilardino may be told to lead the line on his own (long...ball....yawn).
Potentially, this could be a sensational game exhibiting some of the most exciting players in world football. More realistically, Lippi and his boys will be playing for a (metaphorical) point - hoping tomorrows headlines are instead taken up by news of Italy's heroic 32nd consecutive avoidance of defeat.

Needless to say, this game needs an early goal. Both sides have a very contrasting style which normally means it's up to the star players to impose their team's will on the opponents. I just think Brazil will have too much for the Italians who may rely to heavily on their midfield line holding back the offensive Brazilians.

Prediction : Brazil 1:0