Azzurri v Spain Mini-Preview

Basically, nothing is going to be decided today (or tomorrow, depending on where you are). Fringe guys could up their probability of being selected again the next time around, or vice-versa, but there’s still too much time between now and April 7th for any definitive decisions to be made. It’s just a friendly and there is much form to be lost and injuries to be had and who knows, maybe even citizenships to be granted.

Luckily for us it’s against Spain, a pretty damn good team in its own right…especially when the knockout stages aren’t involved (ah, low blow, I know). So at the very least it should be an exciting game; one for the neutral observer.

Rumor has it Gennaro Gattuso and Massimo Ambrosini will be dropped in favor of Daniele De Rossi and Simone Perrotta in a 4-1-4-1. This makes sense logically considering the abilities provided by both De Rossi and Simone – the former taking himself to an entirely new level this year. However, there’s another aspect going unmentioned from what I’ve seen: De Rossi and Perrotta are suspended for this weekend’s match against Cagliari while Gattuso and Ambrosini have an important game to play (hosting Atalanta). The Romans will have rest; Milan, Donadoni’s team of choice (in case you hadn’t noticed), desperately need points to avoid the dreaded UEFA Cup (a “tragedy”, according to GG). I don’t doubt for a second this factored in.

(Looking ahead, there’s no way in hell De Rossi can be left out of the XI for the Euros. He has been, without a doubt, the best midfielder in Serie A this season. But there’s much time for speculation on that.)

The rest of the starting XI is rumored to look something like this:

Buffon;
Panucci, Canna, Barzagli, Zambro;
De Rossi;
Camoranesi, Pirlo, Perrotta, Di Natale;
Toni.

I suppose unless Donadoni asks Pirlo to play further up the field – which is altogether possible considering DDR has some splendid playmaking abilities of his own – this will look more like a 4-2-3-1 with Perrotta playing the pinballing-trequartista role he maintains at Roma. Most interesting might be the subs. Fabio Quagliarella is a probable, as he maintains a spot on the flanks well. But I think the guy a lot of people interested in seeing get some minutes is Marco Borriello. Half because he’s the new guy in the Azzurri striking fold, half because of his stellar strike rate this season (17 in 26). The only real “sure thing” the Azzurri has up top right now is Luca @#$%ing Toni, and they could damn well use another option. Borriello might finally be it. Aside from that the Milanese midfielders will probably get a showing, and considering Roma has about 11.5 men eligible or healthy enough to be brought to Sardinia over the weekend, I doubt we’ll see Alberto Aquilani (per Luciano Spalletti’s request). In the back….who knows. I never have any idea. I just politely ask that Massimo Oddo either be left on the bench or be asked to keep his passing to within 5 yards. Every time he sends a cross in a little part of me dies. Oh, and I hope Marco Amelia brought a good book.

Spain….who cares. It’s a friendly, and it’s more about the performance than the outcome.

Squad lists are here.

And I’ll also be liveblogging the game on the Italy World Cup Blog, link is already up here. Join the fun.