or

The Don is done! Long live Lippi!

Lippi should be introduced as the new CT tomorrow or Monday.

http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Europei/2008/Primo_Piano/2008/06_Giugno/26/abete.shtml

On the Donadoni Era: Since day one this edition of the Azzurri has looked disorganized, confused and a bit out of shape. They arrived at these championships ill prepared and out of shape. I know that they just finished a long season, but to be in shape like that was really disappointing. The team was sluggish during the championships, their tactics were very easy to read (long crossed to luca toni). Overall, when you look at everything there are a handfull of people to blame. Donadoni and the people that hired him (ie Albertini) should be removed from this team, not one or the other. The team was old, slow, and looked tired half the time, meanwhile other lesser european powers out showed us based on the fact of the poor qualities I listed earlier.

Marcello Lippi: I wonder if he will actually become the manager. However, just a couple of things on his part. 1) He quit the national team in 2006 because his son was being flamed by the press for being entangled in Calcio scandolo – he subsiquently quit the national team and soccer until this scandle was over. Let’s also not forget he was offered many posts in international and european football – ie: england, spain, real madrid, manchester united, chelsea, juventus, etc all proclaimed interest at one point or another for one Mr. Marcello Lippi.

World Cup 2006: Let’s not forget a couple of instances in the world cup. Italy only allowed an own goal and penalty in the entire tournament. Sure they tied the united states, but they handidly beat the czech and ghana. A lot of people don’t seem to give italy the credit they deserve for that world cup. This team showed some of the best offensive and defensive abilities ever seen in the tournament. They went into every game did what they had to do, no more and no less. They stuck together like a brotherhood and worked for each other to progress. They got scoring from everywhere on the field, not just the nimble Luca Toni. While other teams relied on one centre piece, that version of the azzurri made each player a centre piece. to discredit them because they were awarded a penalty, or because zidane lacked better judgement is a poor excuse to discredit greatness.

The Future:
Hopefully Lippi is named coach today or tomorrow. Hopefully we can put this nasty disorganized blip on our history behind us. However, one thins is certain. Europe was very lucky as a whole this time around. I am astonished by the weakness of these teams at this euro 2008. Had all things remained consistant (ie coaching, tactics) Italy, even with this senior edition of the azzurri could have caked walked their way to the euro 2008 trophy, but not to worry best of luck to those teams remaining. Cause in 2010 it will be resorgamento!

Buffon; Motta, Canna, Chielini, Grosso; De Rossi, Pirlo; Montolivo, Aquilani; Totti, Gilardino

and the bench:

Amelia/Curci, Bonera, Nesta, Cigarini, Giovinco, Quagliarella, Rosina, Borriello, Rossi

*assuming Gila will find his form again, which I really believe he will*

http://www1.myp2p.eu/competition.php?competitionid=&part=sports&discipline=football

http://www.rojadirecta.com/