Comments on: Bonera for Zambrotta?

By: World Cup Injury Merry-Go-Round - FIFA World Cup 2006 - World Cup 2006 Blog

World Cup Injury Merry-Go-Round - FIFA World Cup 2006 - World Cup 2006 Blog — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 16:54:16 +0000

[...] Defender Daniele Bonera is on standby for Italy’s World Cup squad in case Gianluca Zambrotta is forced out with a thigh injury. The loss of Zambrotta would be a major blow for the Azzurri defense so the Italians will use every second possible before making an official switch if necessary. [...]

By: Lang

Lang — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 14:16:27 +0000

Josh, I do agree with you about the national selection, and I have particularly been lamenting the absence of Cassano and Panucci these past few days. As far as Zambrotta is concerned, I think that we all need to admit that we have no idea when he’ll be ready to play. The crew has done a magnificent job at Coverciano preventing the media from getting wind of his progress, such that few papers even dare speculate.

I know I’m way out of my league here, but does anyone think that a left thigh pull should not be all that serious? I mean, a groin pull or a hip flexor issue, even maybe a hamstring, but typically I thought thigh injuries were one or two day affairs.

By: Josh

Josh — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 13:15:42 +0000

Zambrotta gives us air-tight defending on either flank, and two to five EXCELLENT scoring chances each time he plays. If we were to lose him, that’s what we’d be missing. Not the end of the world, but damn near close. With Totti’s form questionable, and Nesta’s injury up in the air, we’re going to need a special spark from somewhere.

Too bad Lippi’s a tomfool who didn’t include Panucci (or Cassano) in the squad because of personal differences. Pannucci is the one player IMO who could provide just as many scoring chances on runs down the right flank, while giving you solid D and perhaps more importantly, international experience. My vote is definitely for Panucci, but then again, I’ve been saying that for two years.

Bonera isn’t a bad player, but he’s not the smartest player ever to kick a football. We’ll need saavy footballers if we’re going to compete.

By: Alberto Storelli

Alberto Storelli — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 18:21:20 +0000

Lang is bang on !! I used to live in Italy so my italian is quite decent. this is a reporter spinning the fact that bonera will be at training camp. I am sure it is a smart precautionary move but by no means a done deal!! Forza Azzurri!!!

By: rescorpione17

rescorpione17 — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 17:04:46 +0000

there is true concern and possibility that Zambro will not recover early enough to go ..be ready for that !well informed sites (calciomercato.it)gives almost no chance to super Zambro ..i hope thaey are exaggerating !

By: Jay

Jay — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 14:58:16 +0000

‘Channel 4 isn’t exactly getting the translation right.” THAT wouldn’t be the first time, nor the last. heh. But thanks Lang, my Italian isn’t good enough to have picked up those nuances from Gazzetta.

By: Lang

Lang — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 14:46:12 +0000

Channel 4 isn’t exactly getting the translation right. I read some of the reports from Italian papers, and Lippi simply says that Zambrotta is getting an echography on Tuesday, while Nesta had a recurrence of the same muscle strain that kept him out of the Swiss tie. For that reason, he says he’s presently ‘holding’ Bonera in the squad.

So it seems like more of a combination of the Nesta-Zambrotta situation rather than any recent bad news concerning Zambrotta. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

By: Marconi

Marconi — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 14:45:16 +0000

Horrible news if Zambrotta isn’t ready to go. I’m wishing for a quick recovery.

By: Neo

Neo — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 14:31:58 +0000

That would be really bad news if Zambrotta has to go home. Also, anyone knows what Nesta’s situation’s like? The Azzurri cannot afford missing both Zambrotta and Nesta in the WC.

By: Lang

Lang — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 14:29:41 +0000

Is Zambrotta’s injury that serious? I thought the doctors were saying that it wasn’t as serious as previously expected? Worse case scenario, I thought, was that he might have to miss the US game.