Time: 19.00
Place: Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy.
Referee: Mike Dean (England)
The final round of the group stage has turned into a more decisive issue than the biancocelesti faithful had hoped for, with the faith of Lazio not any longer being in the hands of the team itself.
To clarify the situation before the kick-off on Wednesday evening, Lazio and Romanian side Vaslui are tied on six points each but with the teams having played to draws between them it is the Romanian side that are superior as they managed a 2-2 draw in Rome, while the return ended 0-0. In effect this means that if Vaslui manage to match Lazio’s result on Wednesday the Romans will once again crash out as early as in the group stages of Europa League. A possible outcome that coach Reja had not foreseen as he proclaimed the finals as the goal for the team in this edition of the tournament.
Lazio welcome Sporting Clube de Portugal, commonly known as Sporting Lisbon, to Olimpico with the intentions to at least get a win and put some pressure on Vaslui to beat FC Zurich in Switzerland. The discussions have been frequent regarding which attitude Reja should approach this game with; should he play the full strength or should he rest players that have been playing frequently lately? With Udinese waiting on Sunday night, in a game crucial for the rest of the domestic campaign, one can argue that resting players would be the right way to go, while Lazio not being able to advance from a group on paper easy enough for the Italians would be a blow not only to the capital outfit but to the Italian football overall.
No matter which approach Reja chooses, he is faced with a number of crucial injuries that will keep him from being able to choose freely from the pool of available players. Different formations have already been tested out at the Formello as Reja must tend to the fact that arguably our best player to date is sidelined until 2012. Federico Marchetti has opened the door to a goaltending derby between Albano Bizzarri and J.P Carizzo. Strangely enough, Bizzarri who was not present on the bench in Lecce looks set to take the gloves and went on to say today that: "Ho aspettato questa possibilità... Posso aiutare la squadra" (I have waited for this opportunity to help the squad)
Added to Marchetti also Mauri, Konko, Brocchi, Matuzalem, Dias, Zauri, with a late decision being made on Biava, will be missing the crucial Sporting clash and Reja has plenty of thinking to do before the starting eleven will be chosen. From Formello the reports suggest that the 4-3-1-2 will be dropped in favour of 4-2-3-1 in order to make sure Lazio can perform at its very best in this game.
On a personal note I’m quite embarrassed that it has even come to this. In fairness to the other teams in the group minus our opponents Sporting, we should really have given more in the opening matches and now we pay for our 2-2 result with Vaslui back in September. A mini miracle is needed for us to progress, but I have faith nonetheless that Vaslui will slip in Zurich since they have yet to record a win on the road in this tournament.
In soma, Bisogna VINCERE! THIS IS A MUST WIN and as Reja pointed out, we must play the game of our lives!
Forza Lazio!
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