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Dujkovic gets provocative

June 10th, 2006 | By: Jay | 35 Comments »

No offense to the good people of Ghana or their players, but their coach has lost his mind…Ratomir Dujkovic thinks his squad can reach the semi-finals. The results of the African teams keep getting better and better, but this year might be the year they collectively step back. (Witness the Ivory Coast getting turned around by Argentina as I write this).

Muntari will know his Azzurri opponents well, and you never take a WC match for granted, but facts are facts: Ghana has never played in a World Cup and they have the youngest side of any team in the tournament. Just making it out of the group would have to be considered a massive achievement. Anything less than three points on Monday for la Nazionale will be a disappointment.

Tags: Group E, World Cup 2006

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Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 35 comments.

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By Lang | June 11th, 2006 at 4:27 pm

Today further reports confirm that it will be Zaccardo over Oddo in the starting lineup at right-back. Of course nothing is certain until the team takes the field, but assuming that this is true, what would you all think of the development? I, for one, like Oddo as a player in part because I love attacking full-backs, but also because I think his pace is well-suited to contain African strikers.

Let’s hear some thoughts!

Posted from United Kingdom

By True Fan | June 11th, 2006 at 7:39 pm

I think that Italy really should not underestimate Ghana or any of the other teams.However, this is Italy we are speaking about and sometimes they do that.This is one of the best teams that Italy has produced over the years and Lippi is a great coach who knows exactly how to bring out the best in his squad.If he wasn’t a good coach then he would not have such an impessive record as coach of Juventus(it is a remarkable record). With respects to USA winning the group…no way on this planet.It’s nice to be patriotic but at the same time you need to be realistic.For USA to win the group, this would be nothing short of a miracle.This is the World Cup and not MLS.Where the best of the best are present and ready to prove their status.Yes USA is very fit and has good technical ability but they are going to be given a lesson on how to play this game by Czech Rep and Italy.With respects to the starting line described by Lang…I agree that Materazzi is a bad choice and also I would rather Del Piero to start over Gilardino since he has great experience and would know exactly how to handle Italy’s opening match.

By Lang | June 11th, 2006 at 10:13 pm

Speaking of the starting lineup, all hell is breaking loose (if you believe the rumors)! Channel4.com reports that Lippi is likely to ‘wield the axe’ and omit both Pirlo and Gilardino from the starting XI for the Ghana game in favor of Perotta and Iaquinta. Both of these decisions seem abominations to me! I hope that this is not what happens come game time.

Posted from United Kingdom

By Vittorio | June 11th, 2006 at 11:42 pm

Perotta would make sense, given Pirlo’s poor play recently. But Gilardino has figured prominently throughout qualifying, and Iaquinta has not. I think these are just rumors to sell papers.

Posted from United States

By Rescorpione17 | June 12th, 2006 at 12:38 am

..but where are you guys getting all this confusion if any of you doesn’t already you should read La Gazzetta dello Sport on line ..
at htis time the most probable starting 11 are :

buffon
zaccardo canna matrix grosso

camo pirlo de rossi
totti
gilardino toni
the only real change it will be nesta if ready …..

Posted from United States

By Vittorio | June 12th, 2006 at 1:34 am

Yeah, I think Gazzetta dello Sport probably has it right here. While I’d like to see Oddo in place of Zaccardo and Perrotta in place of Pirlo (I think having 3 Roma midfielders playing together would be very good for chemistry in the middle), the squad otherwise looks good.

Posted from United States

By Pao | June 12th, 2006 at 1:37 am

Hi people. I am posting from Italy. According to the rumors Toni is out of the starting 11, Iaquinta will play, and that’s hard to believe. Nesta will be in the starting lineup and that’s for sure.

Posted from Italy

By Vittorio | June 12th, 2006 at 1:49 am

Shoot. My Italian is horrible, but La Stampa might be confirming Pao’s tip on Iaquinta over Toni.

http://www.lastampa.it/sport/cmsSezioni/quiazzurri/200606articoli/1926girata.asp

I understand the Gazzetta article even less, but it doesn’t seem to say either way, just that Toni and Iaquinta are competing for a spot and it’s up in the air (I think).

http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Mondiale_2006/Primo_Piano/2006/06_Giugno/11/lippipensiero.shtml

Posted from United States

By Vittorio | June 12th, 2006 at 1:51 am

Damnit I can’t seem to put URLs in the comment or it says (up for moderation) and then it never get’s cleared. My previous message:

Shoot. My Italian is horrible, but La Stampa might be confirming Pao’s tip on Iaquinta over Toni.

Click on the link on my name for the article.

Posted from United States

By Vittorio | June 12th, 2006 at 1:52 am

I understand the Gazzetta article even less, but it doesn’t seem to say either way, just that Toni and Iaquinta are competing for a spot and it’s up in the air (I think). Click on my name in this post for the article in La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Posted from United States

By Pao | June 12th, 2006 at 2:00 am

It should be like this (according to what some TV reporters said tonight):
Buffon
Zaccardo Nesta Cannavaro Grosso

Pirlo De Rossi
Camoranesi
Iaquinta
Totti
Gilardino

Posted from Italy

By Pao | June 12th, 2006 at 2:22 am

Vittorio i have a different problem: my english is horrible…anyway Gazzetta’ article says that Lippi is going to put Totti and Nesta in the starting lineup. Lippi says he is no worried about the african’s physical strenght, football is more about quality he says. He said he doesn’t know if Italy is gonna win all the matches, what he is sure about is supporters will enjoy Italy’s game. The reporter says Lippi is unlikely going to prefer Iaquinta over Toni.

Posted from Italy

By Pao | June 12th, 2006 at 2:27 am

…they asked him what does he think about next match vs USA. He says if we beat Ghana next match will be hard. If we tie it will be very hard, if we lose it will be extremely hard. He says he will be glad to play against Brasil in 1/8 final cause brazilians could be surprised by Italy, that’s what occurred in 1982. The last question is about the starting lineup. Make a call to the players maybe they’ll tell you, he replies.

Posted from Italy

By Vittorio | June 12th, 2006 at 2:52 am

Thanks for the translation Pao. Your English is excellent! I wish my parents would’ve taught me Italian growing up, it’s so hard to pick up when you’re not a child.

It’s pretty late over there in Italy now, nearly 2am huh? I’ve been having problems going to sleep during the World Cup myself. At least after tomorrow we’ll have an actual game to talk about, rather than just rumors and guesses.

Posted from United States

By Pao | June 12th, 2006 at 2:59 am

Yes it’s quite late, i am just writing something for my next graduation but in a very “light” way….in fact i am here talking about football. My sense of duty is a bit bizarre. Anyway I really think we have a good team, no matter who plays (well I hope Iaquinta e Zaccardo won’t play actually).
Forza Italia (not in a political meaning) and see you tomorrow for some comments, hopefully after a great winning match.

Posted from Italy

By Jay | June 12th, 2006 at 4:08 am

Vittorio, I’ll ask about the problem with your links. They shouldn’t be blocked to my knowledge.

Jay

Posted from United States

By Lang | June 12th, 2006 at 5:36 am

Pao, thanks man! You are an invaluable asset to this board, and your English is excellent. Forza azzurri! Oggi!

Posted from United Kingdom

By Seth | June 12th, 2006 at 6:09 am

The game against Ghana woud be tough. No body shd underate this team from Ghana. It would cost Italy if they do. Ghana is a very strong soccer nation and when it is at its best as it is now, they play very good football. They do not depend much on strikers but most often rely on its strong midfield. Any midfielder in Ghana can be a dangerous striker. Follow their play from the Under 17 side world cup where they have won twice, under 20 where they lost to host Argentina in the Finals and once to brazil in the finals. On the senior side, they have players who matured from the Junior under 17 who won the world. They can cause an upset.

Posted from United States

By Joseph | June 12th, 2006 at 11:27 am

italy 1 - Ghana 0

this will b the result for tonight.:)
Why? Mmmmm………
Cause i can see d future…. hehehehehe……..

Posted from Malaysia

By Kurcsa | June 12th, 2006 at 11:43 am

Please vote!

http://www.enazalkalmazott.freeblog.hu

Who win the match?
Italy
Ghana
Draw

Who win the match II. ?
USA
Czech Republic
Draw

Who win the match III. ?
Australia
Japan
Draw

Posted from Hungary

By Pao | June 12th, 2006 at 12:44 pm

Hi guys. The latest rumors say: Buffon, Zaccardo, Nesta, Cannavaro, Grosso, De Rossi, Pirlo, Perrotta, Totti, Toni, Gilardino. Well, this would be the best lineup at the moment (except Zaccardo over Oddo), we’ll see.

Posted from Italy

By Vittorio | June 12th, 2006 at 12:53 pm

No Camoranesi huh? Honestly I haven’t seen a whole lot from him, so Perrotta might be a good switch. I think we lose some pace in midfield, but maybe gain defensively. I think Zaccardo is capable as a more defensive back than Oddo. Good thing I’m not putting money on the 60/1 odds of an Italy 5-0 result!

Posted from United States

By Pao | June 12th, 2006 at 2:40 pm

Vittorio Perrotta is a very good midfielder with good offensive skills. He replaced Totti in Roma when Totti was injured. He is a good choice and Camoranesi is quite unpredictable in his behaviour, risking yellow and red cards. So I think Perrotta is a very good choice. I don’t like Zaccardo i see him more as a centre defender.
I would put money on anything with a 60/1 odds, it’s always worth.

Posted from Italy

By steve | June 12th, 2006 at 8:45 pm

why don’t u Itallians just take care of ur scandals in Serie A then come here and comment on ur team, that you always have an excuse for

By tony | June 18th, 2006 at 11:42 am

Italy will meet with the trouble after they did not get three points in the match with USA.

Posted from China