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All the Stuff I Missed on Vacation

July 27th, 2008 | By: Julian | 14 Comments »

I’m back from vacation, which ended waaay too soon for me. But I’m back, rested and ready to go. It seems I missed a crapload of news club-wise (Roma were this close to getting Mutu but Fiorentina pulled out in the last second?!?) but there doesn’t seem to have been any huge national team news. The Olympics are literally days away, as the newest issue of Time magazine reminded me, so we’ll have plenty of stuff to cover very soon.

In Azzurrini news, the U19 team made it all the way to the final of the UEFA U19 Championships, where they faced Germany. And by “faced”, I mean “were thoroughly thumped by”. The team lost 3-1, even though they played against 10 men for the final half hour. To be fair, I was on vacation and didn’t watch the game. So maybe it was closer than the score line indicates, but 3-1 is a pretty big loss. Coach Francesco Rocca said that the team basically couldn’t handle the pressure of being in the final, and conceded that Germany deserved to win. And hey, they’re just kids. I know they’re pros but nerves probably did get to them. Huge props for making it that far though, which shows that the national team has quite a few young talented players coming up, including the AC Milan wonderkid in the picture, Alberto Paloschi.

Other blue-tinted news:
Osvaldo scored in a friendly with Fiorentina. Good news for the Azzurri, showing that this guy takes every game seriously and scores not only when it counts (Toulon final) but even just for fun (friendlies). Luca Toni, are you taking notes here?

Di Natale says that his penalty miss is forgotten… as far as I’m concerned, the only thing that we should forget is his spot on the team.

Amelia says that he hopes to impress Lippi while he’s at Palermo. Personally, I think he’s a pretty damn good goalie. He’s no Buffon, but he’s proven to be a capable back up (see: the friendly against Portugal). Palermo could be the palce where he proves himself once and for all. Or where he humilitates himself considering he’s not playing for a relegation team anymore. Who knows.

And finally, the schedule for the upcoming Serie A season has been announced. It’s long so I’ll just link it here, but here’s the opening day fixtures:
Week 1 (31/8/08 – 25/1/09)
Atalanta-Siena
Cagliari-Lazio
Catania-Genoa
Chievo-Reggina
Fiorentina-Juventus
Milan-Bologna
Roma-Napoli
Sampdoria-Inter
Torino-Lecce
Udinese-Palermo

The two bolded ones are the biggest ones imo. Roma-Napoli should also be a great game, and Udinese Palermo is also a clash of two pretty good teams. The way that the games are scheduled was changed- now big teams can play each other early in the season (which happened as Fior-Juve are opening day fixtures) but derbies can’t take place in midweek rounds.

Tags: Alberto Paloschi, Azzurrini, Group E, Italy, Luca Toni, Marco Amelia, Pablo Osvaldo

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Comments

By JP | July 27th, 2008 at 12:39 pm

When exactly do the football matches at the Olympics start? Specifically the Italy matches. I can’t wait! I think it’s going to be a Brasil vs Italy final with Italy winning and wreaking the same feeling of heartbreak on the Brasilians in the Olympics as Brasil has done to Italy in WCs.

By Julian | July 27th, 2008 at 12:41 pm

They start on the 7th, with Italy taking on Honduras. Tomorrow I’ll post the full schedule for the Olympics

By Stefano | July 27th, 2008 at 5:37 pm

Italy lost to Brazil 5-3 in the final of the 2008 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

By yoman | July 27th, 2008 at 6:06 pm

Italy Beach Team

Final

Brazil 5:3 Italy

1:0 – Ist period
3:0 – 2nd period
1:3 – 3rd Period

http://www.fifa.com/beachsoccerworldcup/video/videolist.html

By il divin codino | July 27th, 2008 at 7:24 pm

Italy U-19 is quite talented especially wonderkid Forestieri whom´i´m convinced will be one of world bests. As for Brazil it´s true that they beat us in WCs but so did we, remember their best team ever 1982 (italy 3 x 2 Brazil. Anyway i like them as they value italy very highly.

Posted from Brazil

By mike de robbio | July 27th, 2008 at 7:48 pm

forestieri was great in the under 19’s and we should have got a couple of penalties. Italy played very well, but were unlucky in places. Forestieri hit the post at one point. Okaka was pacy, but unlucky overall. The three attackers worked very well together, a promising future awaits.

Posted from Australia

By JP | July 27th, 2008 at 8:01 pm

Oh yes, I remember ‘82 very well. And I do like Brasil (I’m a Milan fan, so I kind of have too!). But I hate that Brasil beat Italy in the finals of ‘70 and ‘94.

But it would be adequate revenge on Brasil if we beat them in the Olympics because Brasil really wants to win it, they brought so many more over-age stars with them, and it would show that Italy does produce great youth talent.

By mike de robbio | July 27th, 2008 at 8:47 pm

just read about one of juve’s friendlies, in which they won 3-1. Doesn’t sound like they put giovinco on the field though. WOuld have thought a nice pre-season friendly would have been a great opportunity to get that boy some practice. Jeez, i hope Juve play him…he’s such an amazing young talent, it would be a crime to see him sitting on the bench week after week.

Posted from Australia

By il divin codino | July 27th, 2008 at 9:09 pm

Mike de robbio i believe Giovinco is with the italian olympic squad. JP i hated it too as for beijing squad i believe they can do it as this is the most talented u-21 squad in the world but both Brazil and Argentina are bringing over-age stars therefore it´s going to be tough. Forza Italia

Posted from Brazil

By Antonio | July 27th, 2008 at 10:02 pm

Yeah. Argentina are bringing Riquelme….

Posted from United States

By mike de robbio | July 27th, 2008 at 11:03 pm

oh yeah…that makes sense….phew.
the olympics will be great…there’s some tough competition for our lads and let’s face it…the team that’s playing there will more our less be the italian team for the next 10 years

Posted from Australia

By t | July 28th, 2008 at 8:25 am

Either way the olympics are small time, I want some World Cups for our Azzurrini. It’s been a tough week losing two finals.

Posted from Canada