(CNN) -- Italy's soccer players can heal the "suffering" caused by the country's match-fixing scandal by winning Euro 2012, says AC Milan star Alexandre Pato. The Brazilian forward, who has played in Serie A since he was 17, says an Azzurri victory in Poland and Ukraine could rejuvenate Italian football following a year blighted by corruption allegations. The team's Euro 2012 preparations were disrupted by a police raid on their training base four days before the start of the tournament, as several prominent football figures were arrested in connection with a match-fixing and betting investigation. The scandal prompted manager Cesare Prandelli to admit his team could pull out of the competition, but instead they have thrived and will face Germany in the semifinals on Thursday.
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AC Milan star Alexandre Pato says Euro 2012 can save Italy's tainted reputation in football
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Brazilian forward believes winning the tournament would change Italian game
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Scores of football figures have been arrested in latest Italian match-fixing scandal
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Defender Domenico Criscito withdrew from squad before Euro 2012 after police raid
The allegations initially centered on the lower @placeholder football leagues but the latest police sweep indicates that suspicion has also fallen on the most high-profile teams.