Since taking over as coach of the Italian national team in the aftermath of Italy's horrific showing at the World Cup in South Africa, Cesare Prandelli has had an incredible impact on the Azzurri. Six wins and a draw - added to the default victory over Serbia - is a remarkable return given the previous form of the side, and to have only conceded one goal in the whole campaign points to a solidity lost in recent times.
But, as Euro 2012 draws closer, a number of selection issues have begun to emerge and in particular the choices of the coach in the right-back position. Throughout his short tenure Prandelli has wherever possible called up Napoli's Christian Maggio and Mattai Cassani, now at Fiorentina. While their league performances have been largely excellent, neither has hit those same heights in the famous blue shirt of the National team and, despite their obvious abilities, a strong alternative has emerged in the form of Milan's Ignazio Abate.
The 24-year-old was perhaps the most improved player in Serie A last season, going from being a very average reserve in midfield to one of the more impressive full-backs in the league, a transformation begun under Leonardo. While he is still occasionally found lacking the positional sense and tactical intuitiveness that only comes with experience, his increased defensive responsibility has not come at the detriment of his attacking contribution. Providing width to an otherwise narrow Rossoneri side and forming part of what was comfortably the best defence on the peninsula last term, combined with some unconvincing displays from Maggio, must have placed Abate at the fringe of Prandelli's squad.
As much as he has become a better player, this midweek round of fixtures sees Abate come face-to-face with a player doing much the same for Udinese and, arguably doing it better. Like the Milan man, Mauricio Isla is a converted midfielder and although he plays as more of a wing-back than as part of a traditional back four, the two players share many of the same traits and comparing them more closely we can see some interesting parallels.
Unlike Abate, the Chilean has become a regular on the international scene, going from helping the Under-20 side to third place at the 2007 World Cup - after which he sealed his move to Udinese - to being a starter for Marcelo Bielsa's exciting side in South Africa. Another major difference is their club experience as while Abate has been sent out on loan to a variety of smaller clubs, Isla has remained with the Zebrette, making 167 appearances during his five years with the Stadio Fruli outfit.
In 34 games last season Isla's tireless efforts on the right flank were rewarded with two goals and he set up a further seven for his teammates, while Abate featured 26 times in the league and notched just a single assist. Both players will have their respective flanks to themselves, with realistically only the opposing fullback (most likely Gianluca Zambrotta and Pablo Armero) to contend with.
Both are composed on the ball and provide their teams with a steady stream of crosses with the Milan man slightly better, completing 28.1% last season, slightly ahead of Isla's 25.9%. This trend is repeated in general passing statistics where Abate achieved a 81.8% success rate, shading the Chilean's 80.3%. He also managed 2.8 tackles per game, while Isla made 1.8 every 90 minutes and both men only received one yellow card all season, Abate seeing the pairs only red card.
Two very similar players then, playing for two vastly different teams. Their individual displays should be very interesting to watch and, given both sides preferred narrow formations, these two wingers pressed into defensive roles could just make the difference.
