Tony Gentile/Reuters

In an age when the term crisis is applied to almost every degree of hardship, no matter how trivial or petty, its meaning is often lost. In soccer, a series of injuries or a streak of defeats often constitutes such a classification. Under this criteria, to label the problems faced by Cesare Prandelli’s Italy squad heading into this summer’s European Championships as a crisis seems something of an understatement.

Prandelli’s team has been forced to prepare for its opening Group C game against Spain, the reigning world and European champion, amid a backdrop of the deepest matchfixing investigation ever to be conducted in soccer. More than 50 suspects have been arrested in the past year in relation to the ongoing trial in Cremona, and the Italian prime minister, Mario Monti, even suggested that Italian soccer should be suspended for as long as three years to cleanse itself of the latest scandal. Prandelli acknowledged that he would have complied with an order for his team to withdraw from this year’s European Championships.

No such order was forthcoming, but the continuing investigation still claimed casualties, as Domenico Criscito was sent home after the Zenit Saint Petersburg defender was served with a notice of investigation by magistrates. Lazio’s Stefano Mauri’s chances of being named in Prandelli’s 23-man squad were similarly crushed after he was dragged into the case.

But perhaps the most severe injury inflicted on Prandelli’s squad has been the loss of momentum that had been building since the team’s humiliation two years ago in South Africa.

There, Italy’s failure started with the appointment of Marcello Lippi, a decision based on the lure of nostalgia rather than the prudence of pragmatism. Lippi admitted as much after Italy’s humbling elimination at the hands of New Zealand, Paraguay and Slovakia. “Perhaps it was too much gratitude towards the men with whom I won the World Cup in Germany four years previously that led me to pick a worn-out squad,” he said.

It wasn’t just that his squad was exhausted; the approach that had delivered the Azzurri’s fourth World Cup title four years earlier was too. There were no Fabio Cannavaros or Alessandro Nestas from which to build upon, and Lippi failed to recognize it. Prandelli has not made the same mistake.

Tony Gentile/Reuters

Whereas the defensive prowess of players like Cannavaro, Marco Materazzi and Nesta dictated a naturally conservative style, their retirement — or downturn in form, and upturn in age — has signified a change in Italy’s dynamic under Prandelli. This change is manifested in the selection of Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano, both of whom were omitted by Lippi on the basis of their volatile character traits. But as so often is the case, exception is often afforded to those who show themselves to be exceptional, something Prandelli has adhered to.

Originally, the former Fiorentina coach had planned to deploy Balotelli, Cassano and Giuseppe Rossi as an interchangeable attacking front three. A ruptured knee ligament sustained by Rossi in October soon fragmented the three-man plan.

Now, the focus has shifted. It is the dynamic understanding between midfielders Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio, complemented by the energetic Daniele De Rossi and the frustrating, yet talented, Riccardo Montolivo, that represents the emphasis of Prandelli’s system.

Just as Barcelona’s success has correlated with the most successful spell in the history of the Spanish national team, Prandelli will aim to replicate the combination used to such great effect by Antonio Conte at Juventus. Conte has been the catalyst in the rejuvenation of Giorgio Chiellini, Leanardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli, as the Bianconeri marked an unbeaten league season by lifting their first Serie A title since the Calciopoli scandal broke in 2006.

That rejuvenation provided Prandelli with a basis to guide Italy through Euro qualification unbeaten, conceding only two goals in eight matches.

But to interpret that as an indication of a defensive philosophy would be to misunderstand Prandelli. He cannot be classified as a tactical purist, like Lippi. And unlike his predecessor he has recognized where his squad’s natural emphasis is found, adopting a positive style to accentuate the enigmatic qualities of Balotelli and Cassano with a creative midfield platform of Pirlo and Marchisio. As Prandelli explained, “I felt we should play to our strengths, and with these players that means a much more attacking game.”

However, a 3-0 thumping by Russia last week was Prandelli’s third successive defeat, further fortifying the feeling of crisis that taints any prediction of Italian success over the next three weeks.

There are warnings from those who cite the renowned Italian capacity for prosperity in adversity. After all, the last time its domestic game faced such troubles, the national team won the World Cup. If it happens again, perhaps the term crisis will have been applied too loosely in this case as well.