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Lippi Gives His Reasons Behind the Call Ups; Buffon and Camo out of Upcoming Qualifiers

October 7th, 2008 | By: Julian | 48 Comments »

Here’re your daily news nuggets on all things Azzurri:

Lippi has come out and said why he left out Cassano from the upcoming qualifiers: purely as a “technical choice.” I’m going to call that out as being a technical piece of bullshit, to be honest. There’s no reason whatsoever why Pepe should’ve been called up over Cassano. I love 90% of the roster he picked- as I said yesterday, I agreed with most of his call ups for once- but really, not calling up Cassano is baffling. I’d love to hear more detail about what exactly was the reason he was left out. I just can’t shake the feeling that Lippi thinks we’re still dealing with Fat-Real Madrid-2006 Cassano instead of Fit-Sampdoria-2008-Asskicking Cassano.

He also explained the absence of ADP, stating that he called the Juve idol and explained that:

“I wanted to see what some new players could do – I told him that and he understood.

“I also told him to keep doing what he has always done.”

Basically, the Azzurri door isn’t shut on ADP just yet. Lippi just wanted to give other, younger strikers the chance. What did the great coach have to say about Barzagli’s absence?:

“I spoke to him for a long time,” Lippi said. “I want to see the player he was a while ago with the determination and rage. We discussed things very calmly.”

So basically:

“Barzagli sucks now. I really wish Italy pumped out more defenders so I wouldn’t even have to consider him. But if everyone else is injured and I can’t call up Lindsay Lohan to play in defense, I’ll give him a ring.”

But is Santacroce a better choice? Lippi thinks so, claiming that’s he quick and a defender who should be a staple of the team for years to come. He also revealed some other interesting tidbits- the only reason Maggio was called up is because Camo’s injured, since Maggio’s wide position doesn’t really fit in on the Azzurri. Finally, he claims Pepe can make space up front and that’s why he was called up (the mere fact that he got called up over Udinese teammate Quags is bad enough). You know who else can do that but also dribble like nobody else? I’m not even going to answer that cause you probably know who I’m talking about. If you don’t, you clearly aren’t reading this blog enough.

And on a bad note, guess who’s out of the qualifiers? Buffon and Camo. If you read this post up till know you would’ve known about Camo (since I mentioned his injury oh 3 sentences ago), and now we know Buffon won’t play. Both are out for about 3 weeks, and Curci is being called up as a replacement goalie. No one will probably be called up for Camo.

In all likelihood, this means Amelia will be in net against Berbatov and Vucinic Bulgaria and Montenegro. God help us.

Tags: Andrea Ballzagli, Buffon, Cameronasi, Cassano, Group E, Italy, Lippi, Santacroce, World Cup 2010

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 48 comments.

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By ricci | October 7th, 2008 at 7:32 pm

Cannavaro looks very in-shape. He was looking a little overweight in our last qualifier, but he seems to be back to full strength.

Posted from United States

By alessio | October 7th, 2008 at 8:47 pm

Alessio gets offended when you compare any Juventus player to another.

Nah, I just think it’s laughable when someone says “he’s not god compared to everyone else.” Of all the players on the squad, he’s the only one who fits that bill. Amelia is a solid keeper, and I’m not worried about his play, but I don’t feel as confident with him in net. Among other things, he really doesn’t command his area like he should.

For what it’s worth, I’d love to see Miccoli rejoin the Nazionale in the form he’s in.

Posted from United States

By Bashar | October 7th, 2008 at 9:42 pm

Miccoli wasn’t called up?? I find that ridiculous.. He’s in spectacular form.

Posted from United States

By alessio | October 7th, 2008 at 10:22 pm

He limped off injured against Juve, so I don’t know if Lippi would have called him but it’s probably for his health that he doesn’t, for now.

Posted from United States

By asem | October 7th, 2008 at 10:27 pm

Of all the players on the squad, he’s the only one who fits that bill

De Rossi anyone?

LOL sorry for constantly posting about my love for him haha.

By Vincent | October 7th, 2008 at 11:45 pm

Gila and Miccoli or Cassano up front would be righteous. please Lippi, don’t start Toni upfront again. I don’t want to have to insult him anymore.

We need at least 4 points from these games, but i would prefer all 6. The game in Sofia could be tricky though.

Hopefully being in the squad and around pro’s like Cannavaro will rub off on Santacroce. Especially since he plays for Napoli Cannavaro might take him under his wing.

By Giro | October 8th, 2008 at 12:41 am

Werent the call ups before the games?
Nah, I just think it’s laughable when someone says “he’s not god compared to everyone else.” Of all the players on the squad, he’s the only one who fits that bill.
Maybe he was in the Euro Cup but in the world cup the only GOD I saw was Canna. I love Gigi like any one else but Canna is what gets me more nervous then ne one.

Posted from United States

By asem | October 8th, 2008 at 1:27 am

Giro, I think Buffon was pretty much this “GOD” everyone is speaking of, in the World Cup. He only let in two goals, for GOD’s sake haha, though of course, your point holds true, that because of Canna’s amazing run in the Summer of ‘06, Buffon was extremely well-protected and so it wasn’t hard for him to keep so many goals from going in. And as we all know, those two goals were 1) an own goal and 2) a penalty by one of the best players the world has ever known. Though if he blocked a PK in the subsequent shoot-out, like Buffon has said himself, it would have been better.

By Johonna | October 8th, 2008 at 1:32 am

Well, I dont think we have to worry about Amelia vs Vucinic. Apparently he has a myriad of small injuries that will most likely keep him out of the match (or at least that is what Channel 4 says).

Berbatov is a worry though.

Posted from United States

By Johonna | October 8th, 2008 at 1:38 am

Whoops. I should have read the whole thread.

Sorry for the posting this again.

Posted from United States

By alessio | October 8th, 2008 at 2:25 am

Cannavaro was great in Berlin but I’m convinced Buffon was better, even when both were at Juve I was hoping Buffon would get the Ballon d’Or over Cannavaro. His saves kept us in the game, we conceded 1 goal all tournament from open play, and that was thanks to Own-goal Zaccardo. His saves against Podolski and Zidane late game saved our ass and they were both absolutely phenomenal saves. Our defense was great but what made them legendary was the man between the sticks.

Posted from United States

By John Silver | October 8th, 2008 at 6:53 am

Not calling Cassano “for technical reasons” means “yes, just not now.” Seriously, what’s going on now is consistent with what went on between 2004 and 2006: the first year carries a load of experiments and several unexpected call-ups. I expect Cassano to be called up by or around February – if that doesn’t happen, THEN will I worry.

But for now, let the man build his team psychologically before he does so technically.

PS: Asem, I did read your post, and I appreciate it. Thanks.

Posted from Germany

By Bobo | October 8th, 2008 at 12:28 pm

Does anyone else think that Santacroce is a bit overrated? I remember the number that he did on Del Piero, but other than that I’m not sure whether his play (and resulting disciplinary problems) really merit the insane amount of hype that surrounds him. I suppose it comes with the territory of being perhaps the only decent Italian defender to emerge in recent times with the exception of Chiellini (although I personally think that Andreolli is the more talented of the two, even if he doesn’t always show it).

By Julian | October 8th, 2008 at 1:17 pm

Santa isn’t a world class defender but he’s also ridiculously young. He’s just 22 which in Azzurri Defense Years means he’s still breastfeeding.

I don’t see any reason why he can’t grow into a great defender. He’s gotta cut back on the cards, though.

Posted from United States

By Marco Pantanella | October 8th, 2008 at 3:12 pm

John Silver wrote:

Not calling Cassano “for technical reasons” means “yes, just not now.”

It could also mean “I don’t like that guy, and unless he scores 21 goals in one season like ADP did with Donadoni, he can stay home and watch the World Cup on the telly.

By Provenzano | October 8th, 2008 at 3:53 pm

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/oct8r.html

what is this nonsense??The latest news is that Lippi will feild the trident Toni, Di Natale and pepe in a 4-3-3 which he describes as AN EXPERIMENT!!for christ´s sake, Bulgaria is a top class tam, atleast our main opponents in the group and it is no time to experiment!!!4-4-2 must be played because Bulgaria have very speedy wingers and also they will be playing at home..Lippi has gone a bit too far in his arrogance!!selecting perrotta in the first place is a disaster!!According to the latest, De Rossi and Gattusso will be joined by Montolivo in the midfield slots and it was atleast heartening to see Aquilani not at all considered..But 4-3-3 in sofia is a recipe for disaster!!!!!!

By gianfranco | October 8th, 2008 at 4:06 pm

so let me get this straight Lippi will use a 4-3-3, the same 4-3-3 that basically got the Don fired? Lippi is giving national team debuts, hmm curiously like the Don? I know some of you didnt like the Don for whatever your reasons maybe, but his firing in looking more and more like a witch hunt with every day Lippi is in charge…

Posted from United States

By Provenzano | October 8th, 2008 at 4:12 pm

actually, i have to admit that after coming back to the helm, Lippi has not at all looked convincing..i mean Italy did not desreve to win at Cyprus and also did not deserve to win against Georgia…Lippi´s squad played stale football and we were lucky boy oh boy..In fact, poor Don should have really been given atleast 4 more matches before been fired..I hvae to admit that Liipi has really not brought any drastic improvements over the squad and tactics employed by DON..I mean, the biggest blunder of Lippi is leving out Cassano..it is unacceptable, it is just not on..we look stale and we lack creativity which only Cassano brings for us..Now atleast we have Rossi but i cant see him getting a start..Di Natale, Toni and Pepe???gosh!!

By Bobo | October 8th, 2008 at 4:27 pm

Sure, Santacroce is a good defender. But I personally think that an Andreolli — Chiellini (as opposed to that oaf Mantovani) combination could work very well, balancing physicality with positioning. But who knows, we’ll probably never know now whether it would have been any good.

By alessio | October 8th, 2008 at 7:51 pm

No…..the 4-5-0-1 got the Don fired.

Posted from United States

By John Silver | October 9th, 2008 at 6:50 am

Christ Provenzano, you sound like Ajax Telamonius in the tragedy by Sophocles. Lippi wants to experiment against Bulgaria, let him. And some questionable decisions, like Perrotta, are hardly “disasters”. If we get our asses handed over to us then let’s hit the panic button, but let’s at least wait until the matches are played.

Marco – even if that’s what Lippi meant, I don’t see why it would necessarily be wrong. Producing terrific performances is the least I expect from Cassano if he wants to get into the Azzurri (let alone as a starter). That’s simply the standard requirement for any Italian player, not just for Cassano.

Posted from Germany

By John Silver | October 9th, 2008 at 6:56 am

And by the way, consider this:

1. Everything indicates that Lippi wants to experiment in this/these games.
2. Cassano isn’t there for technical reasons.
3. Therefore, Cassano appears in Lippi’s more concrete (non-experimental) plans rather than in the uncertainties.

Not saying it’s the only logical conclusion, but if Cassano is in Lippi’s long-term plans (and I firmly believe he is), then calling up a player you have solid plans on for a match of “experiments” is nonsensical. Hence explained his non-call.

Posted from Germany

By John Silver | October 9th, 2008 at 8:29 am

Perhaps I am being overoptimistic. I don’t give a shit. Cassano is coming back. Have faith and trust in Lippi’s little psychological games – he’ll take him in when the guy’s ready.