World Cup

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Attendance: 39,800

World Cup | Group Stage

Jun 14, 2014 at 11pm UK

England
1-2
Italy

Sturridge (37')

FT(HT: 1-1)

Marchisio (35'), Balotelli (50')

Rafael Benitez: 'Man-marking may not stop Andrea Pirlo'

By Joe Fish, Reporter

Published: June 12 2014 | 13:42

Last updated: June 13 2014 | 09:03

Napoli manager Rafael Benitez warns England that their reported plan to mark Andrea Pirlo may not stop the midfielder controlling their match with Italy on Saturday.

Napoli manager Rafael Benitez has warned that any man-marking plan that England have devised may not stop Italy's Andrea Pirlo from having a match-winning influence.

The Three Lions face the Italians on Saturday in their opening game of the 2014 World Cup and the focus in preparation has been on preventing Juventus playmaker Pirlo from being able to control the game from midfield.

Reports have suggested that Roy Hodgson may ask Danny Welbeck to try to stifle the 35-year-old in Manaus, but former Liverpool boss Benitez, who came across Pirlo twice in Serie A this season, does not think that this will guarantee him being kept quiet.

"Even if somebody like Danny Welbeck is sent on to the pitch with the job of stopping Pirlo - chasing and chasing, closing him down - the Italian will still have the ability to find space and put in the pass that can change everything," Benitez told The Independent.

Pirlo has announced that he will retire from Italy duty after the World Cup this summer.