Time For Curtains On Materazzi

To a man and woman, we’re all thankful for Marco’s performance in the summer of 2006. We’re thankful he stepped in for a fallen legend and provided much more than expected. We’re thankful for his goal against France. And we’re damn sure thankful he said not nice things about Zizou’s sister. But it’s time to call curtains on his Azzurri career.

Marco added another unfortunate line to his CV today by getting sent off via a hack job tackle on Goran Pandev only 15 minutes after he’d come on. Not sure the Inter tifosi are too upset, though, as it means he’ll be out of the final.

Let’s see:

• His form is horrendous.
• He’s 34, closing in on 35, which means injuries of the nature he suffered take their toll.
• The guy is a red card waiting to happen.

Quite frankly, watching Materazzi get sliced and diced by Alessandro freakin’ Del Piero in the Derby D’Italia was enough for me to think he needs to be taken out back and done in Old Yeller style – at least when it comes to his Azzurri career (guy can continue to play for Inter all he wants). After watching a couple more “performances”, it’s clear he’s leaning more in the direction of liability than asset.

Of course, none of this means he won’t get called up in one of the thinner positions the Azzurri bring to Swissaustria. There’s the obvious in Canna and, even if Materazzi goes, Andrea Barzagli looking like the probable starting pair going into the tournament. Then there’s Giorgio Chiellini, at this point looking like a must call (I see no reason why he won’t), and Christian Panucci, resident Old Man/Superduper Defensive Sub who, quite strangely, has been mighty good as a fill-in CB for Roma this season (he’s like the homeless man’s Maldini, just coming from the right). That’s four minus Marco. Given Panucci’s experience, versatility and very good form in the middle of the back four, The Don could choose to call it quits there. I’m not sure you’d hear too many outcries.

If he does bring in someone else, or one of the above mentioned goes down/doesn’t get called, is there anyone else deserving of a shot over Marco? Perhaps. Still waiting on those young phenoms to develop (Andreolli, Criscito, etc), but there have been some contenders this year. Daniele Bonera has started filling his potential this year, and Alessandro Gamberini has looked mighty steady as well, even if he has a poor choice in hair styling.

The Azzurri clearly has a few capable options, and if recent times are any indication, asking Marco to recreate anything resembling Germany would be akin to asking a blind man to review a silent movie. The smart money says the right move is giving a guy less prone to blow ups, hatchet tackles and in some semblance of form is the much better idea. But that doesn’t mean Donadoni will leave him home. We can only hope.