Blue-Tinted News & Notes

• Canna thinks harder than you.

• Bad news/good news. Bad news: Roberto Donadoni has been given his extension until 2010. Ugh.

Good news: There’s an “escape clause”, one which goes both ways (don’t ask), in the contract which can be invoked within 10 days of the end of the tournament. Right. I’ve got a question. If the defending world champions need to invoke an “escape clause” in their coach’s contract, doesn’t that say a whole lot about the qualities of the coach? Shouldn’t a country with the pedigree of Italia be 100% comfortable in who they select as coach? I mean, this is kind of an important gig, yeah?

That said, I hope he shuts me up next month. Forza Don.

• Christian Maggio is bitterly disappointed about his exclusion from the squad, and I honestly feel bad for him. Only because Monday, the day before the squad was chosen, the ever-reliable Gazzetta published a report saying that he was going to be a shock call into the squad. Of course, we’ll assume they heard “surprise call” plus “Sampdoria” and immediately thought “Maggio”; because it could never EVER be Antonio Cassano. (Oh? He got called? Ya don’t say…)

Unfortunately, it’s likely Maggio’s phone was ringing off the hook, and even though his enthusiasm may have been tapered, the door certainly seemed ajar. So it was a blow.

And in the end, it seems he had little chance to bound over Zambrotta, Panucci, Oddo and Bonera into the squad, 9 goals or not. He’s still uncapped at international level, and I, like many I’m sure, am not exactly a big fan of giving first caps in big tournaments. Just doesn’t seem safe, as well as Maggio may have done. Plus Panucci is uber-versatile these days. That helps. (And Donadoni hates wingers.)

• Pippo Inzaghi is apparently alien, at least according to Donadoni. After Pippo whined about his snub and The Don’s immaturity because he had hear he was dumped in the press (bad way to end a relationship, fyi), Big Boss Man responded with this nugget:

“I called him on Monday evening to explain the reasons for the choice, both technical and non-human. He was disappointed, but this kind of reaction is understandable.”

What the hell does “non-human” mean? Like, “I saw you morph into that chick from Species and I decided I didn’t want you eating Luca Toni so you could play prima punta”?

(I’m guess he meant/said non-personal and the translators sucked, but I’d still prefer to think of Pippo as an alien. Seriously. It’d at least partly explain all the goals with zero talent whatsoever.)

Anyway, if Pippo doesn’t get called up after a ridiculous run like 10 goals in 7 games and at a soon-to-be-35, there’s a chance he’s done in azzurro.

• Another Milanista is a bit displeased with The Don, this time it’s Massimo “Space Balls” Oddo. I’ll keep this simple: If he’d put one freakin’ cross into the box somewhere in the vicinity of Luca Toni in the last two years, he’d have a gripe.

• Gianni De Biasi thinks Matteo Sereni deserved a call as the third keeper. That’s nice, but if Donadoni’s down to a 3rd keeper, I’m pretty sure expectations are going to plummet either way. Unless Gigi & Amelia get hurt, I’m sure he can enjoy spectating just like De Sanctis.

• I’m actually really disappointed Vincenzo Iaquinta isn’t going. For me, he’s one of the best squad players in the world. Which is kind of like saying “she’s cute for an ugly chick”. Still, it would’ve been nice to see him on the bench, Supersub that he is.

• The arrival & public training dates have been named for the Azzurri. Just one practice open, which I’m sure was with Raymond Domenech in mind. You know he’ll be first in line to watch anything public with the Azzurri.

Here are the particulars:

Monday 2 June, 17.30
• 8,500 seats and standing room for 4,000
• Public training session confirmed Free ticketing
• More information will be available in due time

They arrive on the second, which means don’t expect much. Some autograph, a few kickabouts and perhaps some light training. And maybe if we’re lucky Cassano will do an impression of Donadoni. Kid’s mighty good at those.

• Speaking of Cassano, some new odds are out on his showing in Swissautria:

Odds he looks FANTASTIC: 2/1
Odds he gets compared to Baggio and/or Totti by the media during the tournament: 3/1
Odds he scores a goal: 5/1
Odds he scores an absolutely bullshit goal: 6/1
Odds he pulls a Cassanata: 7/1
Odds he gets a red card and goes all Fiorentina on us: 8/1
Odds Donadoni kills him before the first game: 11/1
Odds he gets a red card, walks over to the center circle and takes a crap on the pitch: 15/1
Odds he then throws said crap around like a monkey: 20/1
Odds he and Materazzi get matching tattoos of Zidane: 25/1
Odds Real Madrid wants him back at the end of the tournament: 100/1
Odds Roma wants him back at the end of the tournament: 1000/1

• Getting into an Azzurri mood: