Italy enters the 2012-13 European Shield on Saturday, in what ranks as one of the most eagerly anticipated matches in the ten-year history of the RLEF. All the ingredients are there for a truly memorable match in the Makis Stadium, Belgrade.
The two countries have met twice before, with Italy twice the winners. Both occasions, though, in the 2009 European Cup and in last year’s world cup qualifiers, have left a bitter taste in Serbian mouths. In Wales, in the European Cup ranking play-off, the Serbians felt aggrieved about alleged improprieties in the Italian squad, while last year, in the run up to Italy’s visit to Serbia, tensions between the Federazione Italiana Rugby League and the Serbian Rugby League Federation ran high.
These proud nations have never met in the Shield though – a competition that each has won twice and neither has entered without taking the silverware – and the Serbians, desperate for a victory after their shock defeat to Germany in June, will be relishing the chance to welcome the world cup entrants shorn of their Australian-based stars but led by their high profile coach, Paul Broadbent.
“Although the prep has been short it’s gone very well, with the energy and enthusiasm shining through,” said the former Great Britain front row. “These are exiting times in Italy with lots of new blood coming into the game which will only add momentum and strength in Italy. It will also be good to see some of our non-domestic players that didn't get a lead role last year stepping into the leadership positions that have been handed to them.”
Accomplished Cavaillon half Remi Fontana is pivotal among those leaders, and is joined by three more French Elite players in a squad dominated by the Italian champions, XIII del Ducato from Piacenza. Brescia’s Fabrizio Ciaurro and Cedric Prizzon of Villefranche both played in the Azzurri’s world cup campaign while a late blow saw another of the qualification veterans, Bradford-based Jonathon Marcinczak, withdraw from the squad on Thursday following passport difficulties. He is replaced by Stefano Cardella.
“We are all buzzing about the challenge,” continued Broadbent. “We know that Serbia will be tough; they have a number of young players that have come through their system which speaks volumes for their structures in Serbia.”
His counterpart Marko Jankovic has made four changes to the 20-man squad chosen for Germany. In comes Milan Šušnjara who, along with his brother Ivan, fellow Dorcol Spider Dalibor Vukanovic and Serbian captain Zoran Pesic, faced Italy in 2009. Hemel’s former Manly product, aggressive front row Ilija Radan, joins the squad while Podbara’s Dario Milosavljevic is recalled for the first time since 2008.
Jankovic was quick to sum up the importance of the match: “We need to win this very important game and must use our home ground advantage and the support of the domestic crowd in what is sure to be a very hard and competitive match”. And a hot one. Forecasts predict the hottest day of the year so far, with the mercury poised to reach up to 35 degrees.
Pictured: Ilija Radan is recalled to face Italy once more.
SERBIA 20-MAN SQUAD
Lazar Zivkovic, Miloš Zogović (Car Lazar), Mirko Božović, Danilo Delic, Stefan Nedeljković, Stefan Nikolić, Stevan Stevanović, Ivan Šušnjara, Milan Susnjara, Nikša Unković, Dalibor Vukanović (Dorćol), Ilija Radan (Hemel Stag), Dario Milosavljevic (Podbara), Miloš Ćalić, Vojislav Dedić, Vladica Nikolić, Zlatko Pešić, Zoran Pešić (capt.), Velibor Srećković, Nebojša Živanović (Red Star Belgrade)
ITALY 20-MAN SQUAD
Fabrizio Ciaurro (Brescia), Remi Fontana (Cavaillon), Ivan Barani, Giovanni Franchi, Octavian Ilinca, Santiago Monteagudo, Drake Muyodi, Davide Rancati, Andrea Sola, (Ducato Piacenza), Stefano Cardella, Rodrigo Marchesi, Christofer De Meyer, Gert Peens (XIII del Duomo Milan), Romain Pavoni (Entraigues XIII), Rhys Lenarduzzi (Lezignan Corbieres XIII), Mauro Pettenello, (Padova 555 RLFC), Luca Cerza (Parma RLFC), Cedric Prizzon (Villefranche de Rouergue)