World

Europe

Italy

Azzurrini Through and Azzurri Feeling Blue: Italy-Georgia Preview

September 9th, 2008 | By: Julian | 241 Comments »

Big news story of the day(as far as this blog is concerned): the Azzurrini qualified for the U21 European Championships playoffs with a 1-1 draw against Cyprus. Motta put us ahead late in the first half, and Croatia tied deep into the second, but the Azzurrini held out for the win. The draw put them at the top of their table and means we now get to wait until next Friday, when the draw for the playoffs is made. It went down to the wire- this was the final game of the qualifying stage, and a loss could’ve potentially seen the Azzurrini not qualify for the next round (There’s a system in place that only takes the best second placed teams in the group, so they might’ve still been able to qualify with a loss. But winning is much easier no?). Casiraghi had a few words to say about the game:

“It was a struggle right to the end, despite our great qualifying campaign. We even ran the risk of not going through at all,”

“The lads were wonderful, tactically brilliant, especially considering at this moment their fitness levels are not great.

“They worked hard and sacrificed themselves for the team, so when that happens it helps everyone. Sebastian Giovinco and Mario Balotelli were right in there too and gave a helping hand to their teammates.”

(Apologies for the tiny text. Wordpress was giving me problems with formatting it)

So yay for the young guys. They’re so close to making their tourney, but the spotlight shifts tomorrow to the senior squad, who have to start winning convincingly on the road to their tourney (aka South Africa 2010). As promised, here’s my preview:

Italy-Georgia Preview

Georgia Breakdown:

This is their squad, and I feel like an ignoramus cause I once again know not a single person on that list. I mean, the only things I think of when I hear the word “Georgia” are these:

Yup. Peaches

What I do know is that we’re in the same group as them, and they currently lie bottom of the table after one match. Keep in mind that they only lost by a single goal, and we were very fortunate to win last time, so the table isn’t exactly accurate in terms of who deserves to be where.

But, let’s be honest here. This game really isn’t about them. It’s about us. We need to go out there and win convincingly, and that’s going to be much tougher to do now with the mini injury crisis we’ve got giong on.

Italy Breakdown:

We’re a mess right now. The last game showed a lack of effort, focus, and desire. We’ve got enough guys injured (that’s what I meant in the title where it said “Feeling Blue”, for those who missed that) to field a decent team, including Amelia, Chiellini, Gamberini, Grosso, and Gattuso. Notice anything interesting there? 4 out of the 5 guys who got injured are either defenders or goalies. Anyone else wishing Nesta never retired?

On the brighter side of things, we have enough players healthy where we should be able to field a squad that will kick ass and take names. I don’t know why we weren’t motivated last game, but this is a new game, and a new chance to redeem ourselves. Here’s the 11 that I would start for the game:

Buffon

Dossena Canna Legro Zambro

DDR Pirlo Aqui

Camo Iaquinta Di Natale

Buffon is untouchable and outclassed every damn person on the pitch last game, bar Toto. Before the game, every other person who plays for Italy-including Lippi and, why not, Donadoni- should go up to him, apologize and give him a hug for keeping us in it last time. The true leader of the team.

As for the back 4, this lineup should be pretty solid. I envision Canna-Legro being a good centerpairing (I’d prefer GC but we all know what happened to him). Dossena is young but he’s shown that he can be a good fullback. Zambro… well, he’s aging but we really don’t have a choice right now.

The midfield should be set as long as DDR and Pirlo do what they do best. That is, cover the back 4 and push forward, and create plays out of nowhere (respectively). I don’t know what happened with these 2 guys last game, but we need them running at full potential for this game. Pirlo is untouchable for now (until/if Monto ever reaches his potential), and DDR is only in his mid 20s. So, unlike with Barzagli, I don’t think they should be dropped, and I’m not calling a crisis here just yet, but last game can’t be repeated. Aqui in there for good measure.

Anyone else notice that we kinda have a forward crisis right now too? We don’t really have anybody banging out goals for the Azzurri on a consistent basis. Christmas gets a starting spot by default for saving Lippi’s ass last game. Camo is too creative to leave on the bench, which leaves us one more slot in the 4-3-3 that everyone’s predicting Lippi will use. The way I see it, Camo and Christmas are both pretty creative but neither are prototypical strikers. Conversely, Iaquinta probably is. He can hold up the ball, he’s tall, he’s strong… the three of them should click together rather well. I’d throw on ADP late on as a sub, and as for the last option Gila… I haven’t made up my mind about him just yet. I wanna see more consistency on Fiorentina first.

Prediction:

We’ll be eager to prove that last game was a joke, and win convincingly. 3-0 to the Azzurri, with goals Christmas, Legro, and Camo.

Tags: Azzurrini, casiraghi, Georgia, Group E, Italy, Peaches, Roberto Donadoni, World Cup 2010

Italy World Cup RSS Feed

del.icio.us:Azzurrini Through and Azzurri Feeling Blue: Italy-Georgia Preview

digg:Azzurrini Through and Azzurri Feeling Blue: Italy-Georgia Preview

newsvine:Azzurrini Through and Azzurri Feeling Blue: Italy-Georgia Preview

reddit:Azzurrini Through and Azzurri Feeling Blue: Italy-Georgia Preview

fark:Azzurrini Through and Azzurri Feeling Blue: Italy-Georgia Preview

Y!:Azzurrini Through and Azzurri Feeling Blue: Italy-Georgia Preview

stumbleupon:Azzurrini Through and Azzurri Feeling Blue: Italy-Georgia Preview

Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 241 comments.

Read the rest of the comments

By Julian | September 10th, 2008 at 7:49 pm

My ideal front formation for 2010 would have Cassano/Gio playing as trequartista behind a front 2 of Rossi and Balotelli

Posted from United States

By mimo | September 10th, 2008 at 8:22 pm

We all seem to be worried about Pirlo, coz he truly does not have any perfect subtitutes. But the word we are all content to use re: him is “tired”. I hope it is something temporary like tiredness, but what if its more serious? Meaning what if he is physically in worse shape than we expect at his age, motivational problems coz he’s been-there-done-that, and so on.. Whatever it is, Lippi must find the reason and resuscicate him! (His hair always looks healthy though..)

Posted from United States

By alessio | September 10th, 2008 at 8:55 pm

I don’t understand why everyone wants 2 22-year old strikers at the WC. To quote Legro- “I’ve never been in such good physical and psychological shape, not even when I was 20. If a player is good, then it doesn’t matter how old he is. Just look at Cannavaro! You need to win now, not in 10 years, so the Nazionale should pick the players in the best current shape.”

Rossi, Cassano at the WC? Sure. But why not Gilardino and ADP, if they can still produce. Age shouldn’t matter as much as fitness. If they are tired and slow, sure, cut ‘em. But I don’t think all the old players are.

Posted from United States

By mimo | September 10th, 2008 at 9:01 pm

Pirlo is 29, but is looking/playing like the oldest guy on the team! So yes, fitness and form is all that matters. And a team that offers flexibility- with speed, creativity etc all being options (rare to have one players satisfy all the criteria anyway)

Posted from United States

By Julian | September 10th, 2008 at 9:07 pm

alessio- Gila is slow and tired now, and he’s only 26. If he regains form between now and then, by all means. But from what I’m seeing, the younger guys are our better strikers. They’re dynamic, fast, and skillful. ADP is still in immense form, and Toto is winning me over, but Gila…

Posted from United States

By Stefano | September 10th, 2008 at 9:17 pm

I still think Balotelli is to young. It’s better to nature our young players, just like the way Italy has done in the past. He will have lots of World Cup and European Cups to play in.

By Ben | September 10th, 2008 at 9:23 pm

Better performance from Italy, not great, but better. 6 points this September compared to 1 point in September of 2006. I’m happy about that, we can look to October’s qualifiers with more optimism now.

Posted from Canada

By gianfranco | September 10th, 2008 at 9:33 pm

I want to take a minute to give credit where credit is due today, and though i am not his biggest and still am not, DDR played well today. However, in my eyes, these performances need to be consistent to continue to grow into the player he has the potential to become…

As for Pirlo, the Milan camp has been wishing him to look untired for two years now and it hasnt happened. I dont know what it is and I cant quite tell why it is either, but he needs to pick up his form or he two can be on the chopping block. It pains me to say it really, but this team needs to keep forward and doing so with in form regardless of age is the key thing to do. Granted in two years the young guns will be two years and the old guys will be as well, but form and desire, not age should dictate squad choice.

Posted from United States

By ricci | September 10th, 2008 at 9:49 pm

Alessio, ADP in 2010 will be closing in on 36. I know you love the guy but a 35 year old starting striker is prob worse than a 22 year old striker. He’s lost a lot of pace over the years, I just don’t see him starting. As a sub he has tremendous value, but I’d put money on it that he won’t be starting.

Posted from United States

By Bashar | September 10th, 2008 at 10:30 pm

I think the thing with Pirlo is that he just has no real substitute. Nobody can do what Pirlo can do from that position.. Someone said Fabregas but he’s more of an attacking midfielder. Someone can correct me but I think when healthy and not suspended he plays almost every minute of every game. And Milan were in like 4 tournaments last year plus the UEFA Super Cup. And then the Euro qualifiers and Euros.. The year before that they had that deep run in the CL and a decent run in the Coppa Italia. He needs a break badly..

Posted from United States

By asem | September 10th, 2008 at 11:10 pm

ROMA Y ITALIA PER SEMPREEEEEEEEEEEEE

By asem | September 10th, 2008 at 11:12 pm

Do you guys think Aquilani can eventually be molded into the form of a Pirlo type player? I mean he’s already 24, but I think he can eventually become that type of player… He has great vision and pretty good passing and more of a shot than Pirlo. Not as much of a FK Maestro, but we’ll see… I really hope he does become a player in that mold.

By alessio | September 10th, 2008 at 11:13 pm

Oh, hell no. Any Juventino who thinks ADP should be starting for Italy in WC2010 is insane. I’m just hoping he’s still there. I’d be thrilled with him having a sub role.

If Legro-Chiellini becomes the starting CB’s for Italy……what a year it’s been. Neither were considered even close to being a starter for the maglia just last summer.

Posted from United States

By alessio | September 10th, 2008 at 11:37 pm

Great video of the game, with a very nice focus on individual skills-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ya9EUFQOlT0

Posted from United States

By ricci | September 10th, 2008 at 11:56 pm

What a great video.

I’m always a proponent of picking players for the Nazionale that play together a lot. I don’t think anyone would be crying if Legro-Chiellini were to be the pairing. Tremendous job done last season.

Posted from United States

By asem | September 11th, 2008 at 12:06 am

Legro is great.
ADP had a good game and I’d love to see him on the bench at least for the WC. Chiellini should start. Juve should be well represented as always.

I just hope Aqui continues to get called up…

By alessio | September 11th, 2008 at 1:02 am

That’s why I thought Iaquinta would have done well to start up top, ricci. He knows ADP, ADN, and Camoranesi very well. Toni has never played club with anyone up front, same with Gilardino too. Good chemistry.

Posted from United States

By MAD | September 11th, 2008 at 1:50 am

Could someone please enlighten me why Chiellini, Canna and Legro can’t play together in the same defence since Chiellini started out as a fullback? I mean, I would sacrifice Zambrotta runs forward and pitiful defence backward for the reverse, especially if we still have Grosso on the other side.

By asem | September 11th, 2008 at 3:44 am

I don’t think I’ve ever agreed with you before MAD, hahha. As much as it pains for me to admit it because Zambro is one of the players I respect most. I still want Dossena to start, though. I think he’s awesome. I agree with you on the Iaquinta thing, too, Alessio. He is familiar with ADN, Camo, and when he’s on the field ADP. But I don’t know if he’s starting material. I’d still rather have Gila up top.

By gianfranco | September 11th, 2008 at 9:56 am

Pirlo has played more minutes than any Milan player in the past two seasons coupled with all his Azzurri minutes and you get a guy who is probably doubling the time of any normal player. He isnt old but he isnt young either…

Posted from United States

By Bashar | September 11th, 2008 at 10:40 am

MAD.. I asked alessio that question before and he claims that Chiellini hasn’t played full back for over a year now and he’s not much better at CB. Plus he’s our best CB right now and we got plenty of LBs and RBs that can do a great job.

Posted from United States

By Buddy Guy | September 11th, 2008 at 11:45 am

Sorry porco, bravemart, bullfrog or whoever the hell you are we don’t understand or speak moron.

Posted from Canada

By Buddy Guy | September 11th, 2008 at 1:31 pm

Actually both my parents are Italian, from Abbruzzi, about 3 hours directly east of Roma. My parents came to Canada in the 60s. I’m 100% Italian blood but I am a first generation Canadian citizen, does that make me an arab? Where is the logic in that, please explain.

Posted from Canada

By lamagica | September 11th, 2008 at 2:08 pm

porky, where exactly is “napoles”? is it anywhere near “frisinone”?

Posted from Canada

By lamagica | September 11th, 2008 at 3:14 pm

well, prosciutttttttto, i still cant find “napoles”. ever try spellcheck?

youre about as italian as mao tse tung.

Posted from Canada

Comments are closed