View Full Version : Italian National Team
Since the 2006 World Cup win and particularly since Lippi took over the national team reigns, there seems to have been a marked slump in the team. From what I have seen of the team, particularly in world cup qualifiers, the performances from not only the individual players but also the team as a unit have lacked.
In particular, Lippi's philosophy of an integrated team like a healthy family though was evident in the last world cup, hasn't been seen this time around. The team appears to be very fragile even in the matches it wins.
Certain specific decisions also have been baffling and now un-justifiable. I'll point out two of these in detail.
1. Persistence with Luca Toni - He's gone from bad to worse for the national team and really should consider retiring. It's amazing that with players like Cassano, Pazzini, Giovinco just loitering around, he prefers to play old-horse Toni.
2. Refusal to play Cassano - He's possibly the best Italian striker right now and yet he can't break into Lippi's team. His temperament and behaviour has improved considerably since he joined Sampdoria. Why he's not been given a chance?
Young players haven't been given enough chances, particularly in defense. Santon, Santacroce, Motta have been very good this last season and certainly Lippi could give them a chance to play in friendlies and the confederations cup.
Players like Toni, Legrottaglie and Camoranesi are past it and yet being persisted with. Other ones like Iaquinta and Gilardino who have failed to prove themselves despite enough opportunities are again being persisted with.
The midfield and particularly the attack have been extremely static.
The defense is very shaky.
Though the team currently leads the world cup qualifying group, it has struggled against all the decent teams it has faced in the last year.
Beat Syprus, Georgia and Montenegro and USA.
Drew with Ireland, Bulgaria.
Lost to Egypt, Brazil (friendly)
I am aware that this thread has come after a defeat to Egypt and the upcoming encounter with Brazil but this has been my general feeling since Lippi took over.
Even teams like England have started to really hit it off but Italy it seems, have gone backwards.
P.S. - I just realised this thread belongs elsewhere.. Sorry to moderators.
Does anybody remember the lineups used in the 2006 world cup? Where did totti and del piero fit in? My memory is shot...
This team looks like it has a missing link...
^^ Del Piero was on the bench. It was...if i remember correctly:
Buffon; Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Nesta(Materazzi), Grosso; Pirlo, De Rossi(Gattuso); Perrotta, Camoranesi; Totti; Toni
I remember at the beginning he played Toni - Gila but that didn't work out too well so he switched it up.
I know the goals were very spread out throughout the tournament within the players. The attackers are just not as good as they once were or not getting service. Lippi really used his whole arsenal as Italy only had 2 players with 2 goals or more and one was a defender.
Goals in game order:
Pirlo(FK), Iaquinta, Gilardino, Materazzi, Inzaghi, Totti(PK), Zambrotta, Toni x 2, Grosso, Del Piero, Materazzi
hitmannq8
20-06-2009, 20:20
I know the goals were very spread out throughout the tournament within the players. The attackers are just not as good as they once were or not getting service. Lippi really used his whole arsenal as Italy only had 2 players with 2 goals or more and one was a defender.
Goals in game order:
Pirlo(FK), Iaquinta, Gilardino, Materazzi, Inzaghi, Totti(PK), Zambrotta, Toni x 2, Grosso, Del Piero, Materazzi
Yup..Zaccardo also scored an own goal. And the other goal to be scored against Italy was Zidane's penalty. And a correction, Pirlo's goal against Ghana was not a free kick, it was a shot from right outside the area.
What seems to miss for Italy is someone between Pirlo and the striker(s). I think Lippi will have to play, even if he isn't a fan from some of these players, with Cassano, D'Agostino or Giovinco, players who are not strikers nor wingers ...
What seems to miss for Italy is someone between Pirlo and the striker(s). I think Lippi will have to play, even if he isn't a fan from some of these players, with Cassano, D'Agostino or Giovinco, players who are not strikers nor wingers ...
Yes, I was thinking the same thing. Lippi needs to end this 4-3-3 nightmare for Italy, you cannot play that formation with players like Iaquinta on the wing, players who have no creativity.
Lippi should forget his silly "feud" with Cassano and play a 4-3-1-2 formation with Cassano (or Giovinco when he's ready) as a trequartista.
Gabriel489
29-06-2009, 02:26
DOn't worry, the National team will start doing well in 2012, with players like Zambro, Grosso, Canna, Carmonse, Toni, Inquanta, Pirlo, Gattuso, Perrotta and others will retire from football or retiring National team or just play in Milan. The coach will have no choice but to call in players like Givinco, Santacroce and others
True.. the previous generation belonged to Brazil, the current to Spain and the future is Italy's as they clearly have the best youth out there.
MiamiMilanista
29-06-2009, 10:19
I think things will turn around over the next year. The Confed Cup was a good wake-up call. Not only that, I think Lippi understand now that he cant keep ignoring the nation's call for Cassano to join the setup
I'm not that optimistic for Italy ... if the future of Italy is the likes of Giuseppe Rossi and Giovinco like we all think ... just think about a team with both of them on the pitch against a team like Germany for example: they will be physically outplayed.
Giovinco is far to be ready for the first team of Italy as he is already sometimes outplayed by physically stronger players in U21 (against Germany, again, for example). He needs to get some muscles, like Messi has done (look at his legs ... it's why he can keep running even when guys try to foul him).
And like France in 2004, if all oldies retire at the same time, the team will be probably nowhere (Domenech had to recall Zidane, Makelele and Thuram for the last games of the qualifications for the last World Cup).
A team with only young players is something that can't work at the international level: look at Netherlands. They always had some of the most promising players, a potentially amazing team, and they always fail when things become serious (after the group stages generally).
We will see, actually, I'm nor optimistic, nor pessimistic for Italy, all will depend on how the transition is done, and we don't know yet who will be the following NT coach anyway ... Italy will need an experienced coach having a good rapport with his players and able to teach them tactics ... I have a name but some people bashed him for the last 3 years before he left us !! :D
(About the USA, I hope they will be able to play like they did in this Confederations Cup (after their two initial defeats) at the next WC ... they play an interesting football reminding me sometimes an European team that had the same values some years ago: being strong in defence, using tactics, counter-attacking ... I let you thinking about what team it can be ...)
EDIT: I just noticed I wasn't in the Confederations Cup topic ...
Dutchie-Milan
01-07-2009, 07:45
Lippi should not change his squad drastically,the likes of Pirlo,Rhino Gattuso,Zambrotta,Grosso should be called up.
Italy should play like this at the WC,this would be the perfect formation.
Buffon
Motta-Santacroce-Chiellini-Zambrotta
Gattuso-De Rossi-Pirlo
Giovinco
Balotelli-Cassano
I think this should work out great,Giovinco as trequartista and Balo and Cassano as the forwards.
If Giovinco cant handle the physique of the rivals,you can play Cassano there and bring in Iaquinta...
I would prefer Rossi or Pazzini over Balotelli though the former is eventually going to demand the starting place.
Motta over Santon? Its a tough choice.
Gabriel489
03-07-2009, 01:17
It is the midfield that IT needs to shape up. Gattuso and Pirlo are too one dimensional player at the International stage, if 2 of the 3 mids are one dimensional player, the mid will be over run.
Dutchie-Milan
03-07-2009, 09:10
I would prefer Rossi or Pazzini over Balotelli though the former is eventually going to demand the starting place.
Motta over Santon? Its a tough choice.
Motta over Santon isnt acctually a hard choice,Italy is playing with wingbacks,the wingbacks have a very very important role in attack,and Santon is in defense very solid but in attack he doesnt add much,thats why Motta should get the nod ahead of Santon.If we have to defend a 1-0 lead then Motta should get out for Santon.
And i dont think Pazzini should be chosen over Balo,ok Pazzini is doing a great job at Samp,but really the guy isnt good enough for the starting XI at Italy NT for sure,and Rossi hasnt body,we need at least one player who has a good physique upfront,with already Giovinco in the team,Cassano also isnt that big,teams like Amerika will have no problem to deal with our small strikers....
pirlofanusa
27-07-2009, 12:57
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/224307-what-italy-should-do-going-into-the-world-cup
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/224307-what-italy-should-do-going-into-the-world-cup
i saw the photo of the article, and already agreed. :D
pirlofanusa
31-07-2009, 22:40
haha i was the one who wrote it, i hope you liked it
The players called to play against Switzerland for the Italian team:
GK: Gianluigi Buffon (Juve), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari)
Defenders: Salvatore Bocchetti e Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Fabio Grosso (Olympique Lione), Fabio Cannavaro e Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Davide Santon (Inter), Gianluca Zambrotta
Midfielders: Andrea Pirlo (Milan), Mauro German Camoranesi e Claudio Marchisio (Juve), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Gaetano D'Agostino (Udinese), Simone Pepe (Udinese)
Strikers: Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli) Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Giuseppe Rossi (Villareal).
Calciomercato predicts a kind of 4-4-2 with the players in bold ...
I didn't like what said Lippi about the two new players of the NT (Criscito and Marchisio) ...
That looks a pretty weak team to me.
What did he say Geo?
That they have to be ready now and he doesn't want to see any other bad performance because we are nearer and nearer from the next WC ... so he said OK for young players, but they have to be ready for the WC or they won't come, as simple as that (it seems there is a battle in Italy between Lippi and medias, Lippi seems to want to keep his "oldies" whereas the medias ask for a fresh new team).
I don't think it is the best way to welcome new players ...
And yes about the weak team, what worries me is that he still uses Camoranesi, actually, he is going to play something like:
--------------- GK ---------------
------------ Defence ------------- <= why not trying Criscito in the centre of the defence with Santon on his left ...
---------- Pirlo - Palombo ---------
Camoranesi -------------- Marchisio <= in second half, we'll see Pepe ... pffff
----------- Gila - Rossi ------------ <= probably Iaquinta replacing one of them ... pffff again
I can't understand that when you know he could play some kind of 4-3-1-2 with Cassano and some other players included in this formation instead of Camoranesi and Marchisio (Italy has no great winger, whereas they have plenty very good classical midfielders).
this lineup looks nothing like the eventual lineup. I think Lippi needs to play the players he intends to play. I dont believe Gila has the presence so Toni maybe the answer up front.
It would be nice to see Cassano up behind him.
----------------Buffon----------------
Zambro Santacrocce Cannavaro Chiellini
---------Gatusso Pirlo De Rossi--------
--Casssano-------------------Rossi---
----------------Toni------------------
I would also be weary of Canna playing too many games so I would have Santon ready to step in (Depending on how he does this season) at left back so Chiellini can slip in at centreback.
Chiellini is set to be a starter as a CD for the next WC ...
Italy better hope Amauri decides to play for them once he gets his passport (next month, apparently), as Toni, Gila, Iaq etc. simply aren't good enough.
Also, is Marco Motta injured? If not Lippi should've called him; he's the best Italian fullback out there.
Dutchie-Milan
13-08-2009, 07:15
Lippi should call Cassano up period.Italy cant only depend on Pirlo to do everything and they also need another good distributer who can bring the ball from midfield to attack,and Cassano is that kind of player,Amauri will also be available and he could future for Italy,then they have FINALLY got a good attacker as the rest of them(Gila,Toni,Iaquinta)are crap for NT.
Amauri,Cassano,Santacroce,Motta are the answers to all problems.
Lippi should call Cassano up period.Italy cant only depend on Pirlo to do everything and they also need another good distributer who can bring the ball from midfield to attack,and Cassano is that kind of player,Amauri will also be available and he could future for Italy,then they have FINALLY got a good attacker as the rest of them(Gila,Toni,Iaquinta)are crap for NT.
Amauri,Cassano,Santacroce,Motta are the answers to all problems.
The main issue for Italy is that Lippi tends to play with 2 DM (Gattuso and De Rossi) around Pirlo in his usual first team.
It's the same issue as for France with Domenech who seems to like his Lassana Diarra-Toulalan (2 DM) association in midfield. For example, against Feroe Islands, the 164th team in the FIFA ranking (or 168th, I don't remember lol), the guy still used 2 DM to play against this amateur team ... and they only won 1-0.
Once you put these players, you can't have a fast attacking team, it's always with built actions that you can score. That worked in the past as for example, Brazil was a very attacking team but tactically, they were not that good (even when they were the best team, anyway they probably still are the best team despite Dunga being thei coach :D). The problem is that nowadays, all teams have improved in many areas and tactically, all the best teams are at the same level or almost.
So you have on one hand teams like Spain, Brazil, Argentine or Netherlands that are very complete nowadays and have some extra talent in their team (Torres-Villa, Kaka' and co, too many players for Brazil, Messi and Aguero, the attacking players for Netherlands), the difference between them is in their mentality, especially in the round robin games, and on another hand, you have teams like France or Italy that seem to have some talent but the teams haven't improved, they didn't change their way to play and the coaches tend to keep their oldies and their ideas, even when that doesn't work anymore ...
Milano84
13-08-2009, 11:11
The main issue for Italy is that Lippi tends to play with 2 DM (Gattuso and De Rossi) around Pirlo in his usual first team.
It's the same issue as for France with Domenech who seems to like his Lassana Diarra-Toulalan (2 DM) association in midfield. For example, against Feroe Islands, the 164th team in the FIFA ranking (or 168th, I don't remember lol), the guy still used 2 DM to play against this amateur team ... and they only won 1-0.
Once you put these players, you can't have a fast attacking team, it's always with built actions that you can score. That worked in the past as for example, Brazil was a very attacking team but tactically, they were not that good (even when they were the best team, anyway they probably still are the best team despite Dunga being thei coach :D). The problem is that nowadays, all teams have improved in many areas and tactically, all the best teams are at the same level or almost.
So you have on one hand teams like Spain, Brazil, Argentine or Netherlands that are very complete nowadays and have some extra talent in their team (Torres-Villa, Kaka' and co, too many players for Brazil, Messi and Aguero, the attacking players for Netherlands), the difference between them is in their mentality, especially in the round robin games, and on another hand, you have teams like France or Italy that seem to have some talent but the teams haven't improved, they didn't change their way to play and the coaches tend to keep their oldies and their ideas, even when that doesn't work anymore ...
The problem is those are undoubtedly italy's best players especially when on form. De rossi is 1 of best cm's in the world. Gattuso is best DM on form and a leader on the pitch in big games. Pirlo is the best playmaker italy have.
The issue with italy since 2006 has been defensive mostly. The iron curtain defense of 2006World Cup is gone. Cannavaro is error-prone. he lacks a real consistant partner and at FB italy has been inconsistant.
The other big ussue, which i think lippi deserves to get fired for is using the 4-3-3 after donadoni flamed out on it. Its not the best use of italy's talent. As far as i'm concerned italy should go 4-3-2-1 or 4-3-1-2 w/ cassano and rossi off a targetman. Perhaps even a 4-4-1-1 and use players like foggia as a winger. But he refuses to call up cassano even though he is the best italian attacker for 2 years now.
IMO best italian squad now would be...
Pazzini
Cassano---Rossi
Gattuso---Pirlo---De Rossi
Grosso--cheillini---cannavaro---motta
buffon
and that defense is still not good enough to get past quarter finals IMO. But what can you doi? Italy cannot compete w/ attacking teams by attacking
Bring back Nesta! Nesta and Cheillini is a better partnership than Canna and Cheillini, IMO.
----------------Buffon/Consigli---------------------------------
Motta/Santacroce---Bocchetti----Chiellini-------Criscito/Santon--
----Marchisio/Gattuso---Cigarini/D'agostino----Dessena/De Rossi-
-----------------------Rossi/Giovinco---- ----------------------
-----------Balotelli/Cassano---------------Paloschi/Amauri-------
4-3-1-2 is the formation i prefer,did i miss someone?
italy has a very bright future,at least on paper:)
Milano84
15-08-2009, 16:19
----------------Buffon/Consigli---------------------------------
Motta/Santacroce---Bocchetti----Chiellini-------Criscito/Santon--
----Marchisio/Gattuso---Cigarini/D'agostino----Dessena/De Rossi-
-----------------------Rossi/Giovinco---- ----------------------
-----------Balotelli/Cassano---------------Paloschi/Amauri-------
4-3-1-2 is the formation i prefer,did i miss someone?
italy has a very bright future,at least on paper:)
offensively yes. balotelli/rossi/giovinco should form 1 of the best attacking tridents in world football in years to come.
defensively though, none of those players other than santon have really shown 'it' that italian defenders r known for.
pirlofanusa
18-08-2009, 22:58
Bring back Nesta! Nesta and Cheillini is a better partnership than Canna and Cheillini, IMO.
I agree totally. Nesta is so much better than Canna right now.
Motta-Nesta-Cheillini-Santon/Grosso is a good defense
Dutchie-Milan
19-08-2009, 06:27
FINALLY Italy arent lacking that strong world class complete striker anymore as Amauri is now available and he chose Italy,great news.
With Amauri available,and the players who are hunting for a spot,i think the best lineup is this one.
Buffon
Zambrotta-Cannavaro-Chiellini-Criscito
Gattuso-Pirlo-De Rossi
Rossi
Amauri-Cassano
I think this is a great lineup,with Cassano and Amauri backed by G.Rossi,also the midfield is strong with Pirlo as the usual playmaker,Rhino and De Rossi doing the dirty job with also have De Rossi who can make his rushes towards the opposite goal.
The defense is solid,i want Santacroce with Chiellini in the back,but thats not realistic,because they are both to young and Lippi will choose for Canna for sure.Criscito is younger and fresher then Grosso.Santon is attacking wise miles behind of Criscito,and Italy plays with wingbacks so i think Criscito should get the nod.Motta is also a possibility.
And IF Totti will be available,then he should play on Rossi's place.
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/9499/770y.png http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/912/f2m5a162ebh.png http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/3430/776.png
Georgia -Italy
Saturday, September 5, 20:30 CET.
Boris Paichadze Stadium, Tbilisi
:: Goals ::
0-1 Kaladze (O.G) Min.56
Click Here for Video (http://www.d1g.com/video/show/?id=3102000)
0-2 Kaladze (O.G) Min.67
Click Here for Video (http://www.d1g.com/video/show/?id=3102044)
:: Extras ::
1st Half Highlights
Click Here for Video (http://www.d1g.com/video/show/?id=3101917)
Italy is such a boring team nowadays ... thanks Lippi for using the same team as in the last Euro (or almost), a team that was already like the one from the last WC actually (or almost) ...
I read an interview of Moratti and he said that Thiago Motta could play for Italy ...
What do you think about that ?
I mean, what do you think about the fact that many players from other countries, who have two passports, could play for another country ? Nowadays, there are a lot of talks about Amauri and so now, Thiago Motta playing for the Italian side ...
Other question: do you think that Thiago Motta is worth the Italian first XI ? I would say no in the current formation that Lippi tends to use ...
With Santacroce, Thiago Motta and Amauri, this Italian national team could possibly have some accents from Brazil !! :D
(without forgetting Camoranesi who is an Argentinian born player if I'm not wrong)
pirlofanusa
13-09-2009, 00:28
i think Italy could be really strong next WC with-
4-3-1-2
---------------Buffon-----------
Motta--Canna-Chiellini--Grosso/Cristico/Santon
----De Rossi---Pirlo---Marchisio/Aquilani
---------------Cassano---------
-----Pazzini----Quagliarella-----
In my perfect world, Nesta would come up over Canna because he is much better right now, and I would give the armband to him or Buffon.
Pepe should never play for Italy again.
This team would have great depth with Rossi, Amuari, Santon, Zambrotta, Montolivo, etc on the bench.
Attack would be so so much better with Cassano and Pazzini up top together. Having Motta charging up the flank helps a ton, and Rossi is great off the bench and adds tons of energy.
ozMilanista
10-10-2009, 16:47
http://www.football-italia.net/italy/ire-ita.html
Ireland 2 Italy 2
Whelan 7 (R), Camoranesi 26 (I), St Ledger 86 (R), Gilardino 89 (I)
Croke Park, Dublin
Alberto Gilardino's last gasp equaliser sealed Italy's place in South Africa, as they twice fought back against the Republic of Ireland.
This was a head-to-head at the top of the Group and the Azzurri (tonight playing in white) needed only a point to be sure of qualification. Giovanni Trapattoni's Ireland also required only a draw to lock down a play-off spot after Bulgaria's 4-1 defeat in Cyprus earlier this evening.
Fabio Cannavaro was suspended and Claudio Marchisio underwent knee surgery this morning, so Nicola Legrottaglie stepped into the defence, while Antonio Di Natale, Mauro Camoranesi and an advanced Andrea Pirlo supported lone striker Vincenzo Iaquinta. Giuseppe Rossi and Davide Santon were in the stands. Ireland had Damien Duff, Darron Gibson and Steven Reid injured, so gave Liam Lawrence his first competitive start.
Both teams were unbeaten in Group 8 and had drawn 1-1 when they met in Bari on April 1, although Giampaolo Pazzini was very harshly sent off just three minutes in. There was a minute's silence before kick-off for the dozens who died in recent floods in Messina.
Italy had played here three times before and won every game 2-1 in 1971, 1985 and 2005.
Ireland opened the scoring with their first chance. Legrottaglie mistimed his tackle on Robbie Keane down the right flank and the Lawrence free kick was rolled back to outside the D where Glenn Whelan smashed it into the near top corner.
Another Lawrence free kick, this time from the other wing, was flapped away with some difficulty by Gigi Buffon. Fabio Grosso fired a free kick into the defensive wall. Grosso then got down the left and skipped back past Lawrence only for Daniele De Rossi to scuff the finish. McGeady went on a rapid counter before he was eventually closed down.
Grosso took matters into his own hands with a splendid volley that Shay Given smothered with his chest. Moments later Di Natale caused panic in the Irish box.
From that corner Pirlo curled the ball in for Mauro Camoranesi's header from six yards as Italy equalised. Given, on his 99th cap, got his hands to it, but the header was just too powerful and squirmed in at the near post.
Whelan was first into the book for a tackle from behind on Angelo Palombo and will be suspended for the game against Montenegro. Iaquinta was flagged offside by centimetres when one-on-one with Given and another Pirlo corner, this time to the back post for Legrottaglie, was nodded wide.
Keane's acrobatic overhead kick was wide after fine work from Aiden McGeady, while Pirlo rather ambitiously hit a free kick straight at goal from 45 yards.
Italy thought they had gone 2-1 up within 90 seconds of the restart. Pirlo's free kick was flicked off Chiellini's head for Iaquinta to get a final touch, but the Juventus man was marginally offside and so the goal was disallowed.
An Irish free kick found John O'Shea totally unmarked, but his weak looping header was easy prey for Buffon. Ireland won a free kick outside the D, but Lawrence hit it at the wall and Andrews ballooned the follow-up over. Meanwhile, Trapattoni was spotted clutching his famous bottle of holy water on the touchline.
It took body blocks from both Legrottaglie and Chiellini to close down Keane for a corner. Lawrence whipped it in for Dunne's header straight at Buffon. Moments later Italy nearly scored a second, as Iaquinta lobbed it back from the byline for O'Shea to anticipate a totally unmarked Di Natale.
Iaquinta at full stretch couldn't get control of a smart Di Natale ball over the top and Pirlo's strike was charged down, then De Rossi was booked for a tug on McGeady. Trap made two changes, introducing Leon Best and Martin Rowlands.
Zambrotta cut in from the right and smashed a powerful angled drive that Given pushed round the base of the near post. De Rossi drilled wide from distance before Alberto Gilardino and Salvatore Bocchetti replaced Di Natale and Grosso. It was the senior Italy debut for the 22-year-old Genoa defender and pushed Iaquinta wide left.
O'Shea was again decisive when intercepting a Camoranesi cross for the head of Iaquinta. Trapattoni's final substitution saw Stephen Hunt replace McGeady.
Iaquinta blasted over at the end of a good passing move, as Italy were keeping the ball comfortably now. Best went into the book for a late sliding tackle on De Rossi and a Pirlo set piece flashed across the face of goal.
However, Ireland scored against the run of play. Hunt earned a free kick down the left and whipped it into the six-yard box for a diving St Ledger header at the back post. Gilardino should've cut out the cross, but was late, while Trapattoni had waved the defender forward for this kick.
Marcello Lippi was unbeaten since 2004 in Slovenia and threw on Simone Pepe for Palombo. It worked wonders! Italy equalised within 60 seconds! Pepe charged on the counter and passed low for Iaquinta, who rolled across for Gilardino at full stretch to side-foot in from eight yards, sending Given the wrong way.
Republic of Ireland: Given; O'Shea, Dunne, St Ledger, Kilbane; Lawrence, Andrews, Whelan (Rowlands 70), McGeady (Hunt 78); Keane, Doyle (Best 67)
Italy: Buffon; Zambrotta, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Grosso (Bocchetti 76); De Rossi, Palombo (Pepe 89); Camoranesi, Pirlo, Di Natale (Gilardino 76); Iaquinta
Ref: Hauge (Nor)
never thought Gilardino will score the all important goal, but he did!!!
Pirlo played well too, his long balls to grosso were very good and accurate...but he never seems to play the same for milan...lets hope he brings the same form back to club football...
pirlofanusa
10-10-2009, 23:40
Why does Lippi start Legrottaglie instead of Gamberni? he shut down Torres in the CL last week
Here (http://eu-football.info/_club.php?id=952) you can find info about caps of all AC Milan`s players until 1970 and also full match reports of all matches of Italian national team
Lineup for Ivory Coast friendly 4-2-3-1
Sirigu; Motta, Chiellini, Bonucci, Molinaro; De Rossi, Palombo; Pepe, Cassano, Balotelli; Amauri
What do you think?
borriello to come on. He is a much better option than Amauri
Each time I see Pepe and Motta, I think the same thing: useless/not good enough.
I would have preferred Antonini instead of Molinaro.
Cassano was very good. Amauri can be useful for the NT thanks to the way he plays, but he needs to regain form and confidence with his club firstly. Balotelli, well, Prandelli should let him become a regular starter in his club before calling him, for me, he isn't ready yet (not as a starter for the NT, maybe like a joker).
I think Prandelli should try G.Rossi and Cassano just behind Borriello.
A lot of work to do ...
i think motta still isn't the full deal but he is probably the best option BEHIND cassani in my opinion. rossi, cassano and borriello would be devestating. definitely a chance for the next game, but i think Gilardino will get the nod.
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