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Footy News for the Day, Featuring the UEFA Cup, Rossi, and Lippi

February 20th, 2009 | By: Julian | 43 Comments »

UEFA Cup in a nutshell: Fior lost, Milan tied, Udinese tied, and Samp lost. If you want more info, check out their respective blogs. Basically, it’s not looking good for Italian clubs in Europe’s little redheaded sister of a competition, but anything can happen in the return legs.

Moving along to Azzurri news, who does our boy Rossi think is his ideal companion up front on the Azzurri? Anyone.

” [I'd prefer to play as a] second striker, but I am suitable for all and compatible with all teammates in attack. Even Amauri, should Marcello Lippi call upon him.”

Let’s not go that far, champ. I’m sure we can find you a partner who isn’t Benedict Arnold and doesn’t suck. Again, I was impressed with Toni in the Brazil friendly, but at his age, he’s not a long term option. There’s always Cassano, but on the rare chance that Lippi does call him up, him and Rossi might be just too creative to play together. We’ll need a true #9 and Gila just doesn’t cut it on the national team. Anyone want to write to Acquafresca asking him to take the spot?

And speaking of Lippi, Daily-Calcio.com has a great interview with him up on their site. Some key excerpts:

There are many players who are doing well,such as Floccari, Di Vaio. I’m following them, but I can not call them all together. Santon is a player I like a lot, he seems predestined, he reminds me of a young Maldini. Marchisio, Giovinco, Acquafresca, I leave them to the Under 21, because they have the European, I leave them to Casiraghi, then from June onwards, I will have them also available. With three and a half years since the World Cup I am still not sure now of having the best technically, but I am sure that I have some outstanding players, for their mentality and knowing how to be part of a group, of a team

This was in response to someone asking if Cassano is going to be called up. Based on his first sentence, where he named 2 other players that really don’t have a prayer in the Azzurri shirt, I’m going to assume that Cassano isn’t going to be called up soon. And you should, too. But this does provide us with some relevant info- we know that from June onwards, there’s a pretty decent shot of Marchisio, Gio, and Acqua being called up for the national team. And Lippi, contrary to popular belief, is also watching the younger guys like Santon. We all know though that watching them doesn’t equal calling them up.

So for all of you wondering when we are really going to transition, it looks like this summer will be key. That gives us less than a year to really build a solid starting 11 and have everything click, but it’s far more important to build a good team spirit. I have faith Lippi will pull through in the end.

Finally, I’m working on the third edition of Crappy Lookalikes, which I hope will be up soon. I have a couple of footy-celebrity lookalikes already, but please leave any suggestions in the comments.

Tags: Group E, Lazy Tagging, Marcello Lippi, World Cup 2010

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 43 comments.

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By asem | February 23rd, 2009 at 11:33 am

MAD, we all were, well, mad to think that a kid who’s 18 and who just made his debut at the senior level for his club team would automatically go into contention for being called up the the Azzurri … weren’t we? I mean that sorta thing happens everyday………..

I still don’t think he will be called up for a while. Maybe when the WC rolls around, though…

Posted from United States

By alessio | February 23rd, 2009 at 12:03 pm

Plenty of Riomanistas were saying it…..at one point Taddei said he wouldn´t play for Italy because it wouldn´t be right to take the place of Pepe, or Abate, aka young Italian wingers. Load of horse shiite.

Posted from Spain

By MAD | February 23rd, 2009 at 3:14 pm

I never said he should be called up. I, essentially, said that there were worse players out there.

Lippi said basically the same thing I did. He’s someone worth paying attention to seriously.

And it happened at Inter before, very recently (1982). A right back named Bergomi who played in almost every game that World Cup.

By asem | February 23rd, 2009 at 3:25 pm

True, Lo Zio was 18 and played a lot at WC. Way before my time though hahha. Santon is the real deal though, hopefully he progresses and is ready for WC’10 b/c the old generation of Italian defenders is dying off and a new generation needs to be infused into the line-up.

Posted from United States

By Vincent | February 23rd, 2009 at 7:31 pm

Why not let him get a call up

By MAD | February 23rd, 2009 at 9:00 pm

Careful with that kind of talk around here, pard.

The only players one is allowed to talk about in regards to the national team is Roma and Juventus. Talk of none of the other 18 teams in Serie A are allowed.

*shudder* God alone knows what will happen if you do.

No sir, there are some things we are just not allowed to discuss. And hell help us if we try.

By Julian | February 23rd, 2009 at 9:35 pm

Taddei shouldn’t play either. Him and Amauri are in the same boat. They’re Brazilian and it’s Dunga’s issue. Not ours.

And MAD, no idea where you’re getting that BS from. This blog is for all Italian soccer players. I’ve talked about Balotelli, Santon, Cassano, Acquafresca, Gila, Curci, plenty of times in the past. If there’s anything you guys feel I’m not covering, please let me know. But not in a backhanded way.

Posted from United States

By MAD | February 23rd, 2009 at 10:08 pm

“And MAD, no idea where you’re getting that BS from. This blog is for all Italian soccer players.”

As long as they wear black and white, or red and yellow I agree with this statement.

By Julian | February 23rd, 2009 at 11:06 pm

This post mentions a whopping 0 Roma players and namechecks 2 Juve players.
The player who I talked about the most was Rossi, and if I remember correctly, he plays at Roma right? Or was it Juve?

Considering 2 of my latest entries were all about Maldini and Nesta, I could even see an accusation of a Milan bias. But Roma/Juve?

Sorry buddy if you don’t like the way I’m blogging, but please don’t accuse me of things without backing it up. Again, I’m open to any constructive criticism.

Posted from United States

By MAD | February 24th, 2009 at 12:13 am

I’ve given you plenty of examples in past posts. I really don’t feel like doing all that again and again.

Besides, I haven’t accused you of anything. I was merely responding, in my own way, with an observation to someone else’s post.

And just because you mentioned Maldini or Nesta in recent entries doesn’t mean that more space here isn’t dedicated to promoting your guys/slagging those you don’t like more than anything.

There are plenty of lesser known guys who could be called up. How about formally discussing the merits of: Potenza, Miccoli, Moris, Floccari, Doni, Biondini, Balzac, Ferrari, Paolo Canna, Maggio, and Foggia, for example. Most of these guys have 20+ games under their belt this season. Are they in form? Do they have enough talent?

Some of these guys have been called up for spot duty, do they merit another look? Is everyone familiar with these players? Do any of these players not deserve a call up? How much better, if at all, is Legro than Moris/Paolo Canna/Ferrari/Balzaretti, for example? It would beat talking about Amauri, DelP, Totti, etc etc over and over again.

By Michel-Olivier | February 24th, 2009 at 12:42 am

i thought you guys said anyone with italian ancestry can play for italy.
taddei receive his italian passport through ancestry just like altafini.

Posted from United States

By Julian | February 24th, 2009 at 1:06 am

MAD- fair point, duly noted. I haven’t seen enough games this season from all the teams to come up with a post like that, but your comment made me think of something. Look for it in the near future.

Posted from United States

By alessio | February 24th, 2009 at 4:41 am

MAD, I´m glad your team is actually starting to play an Italian. When he gets 15-20 games under his belt, then I´ll talk about callups. Just like last year with Balotelli and early this season with Giovinco/Marchisio, you gotta earn your callup. I agree with the general sentiment of your post though.

How much better, if at all, is Legro than Moris/Paolo Canna/Ferrari/Balzaretti, for example?

While I obviously think Legro is the best of the group (Cannavaro has had a nightmare lately, Ferrari has been hit or miss) Balzaretti is not a center-back.

Posted from Spain

By MAD | February 24th, 2009 at 11:09 am

“My team” has nothing to do with it. I am just sick of hearing about the same old same old. Plus, having paid attention to the team in recent outings, I think that an argument can be made that the 06 players don’t fit the new system that the coach wants to run. We may need different skills and more versatility than we currently have.

There is/may be a bigger net to cast and more diversity when looking for players for the National team.

And for the dozenth time, I have yet to ask for a “callup” for Santon. I think he’s a serious player to watch for the future. He’s not a laughable choice like some have made him out to be just because some of you have a problem with his club team. That’s it. Casiraghi has no interest in him so there is no U21-senior squad friction. Plus, from a club perspective, it’s better for us if he *doesn’t* get a call up. We have too many players that have to leave for these International games.

As far as Balzac not being a center back, neither was Chiellini. But if stayed at the fullback position, would he be a better option than Zambrotta? In rotation with Grosso?

By alessio | February 24th, 2009 at 11:39 am

As I said, I agree with the general sentiment of your post. I think Miccoli and Floccari deserve a run, to say the least.

Balzaretti and Chiellini are very different players…you could see even back in 2005 that Giorgio was very capable of being a center back. Fast, dominant in the air, and great at sliding tackles. Balzac isn´t quite the same. I´d love to see him get called up as a vice-Grosso, or he could switch to the right for Zambrotta. He´s been one of the most consistent fullbacks over the last few years.

Posted from Spain

By lamagica | February 24th, 2009 at 1:23 pm

taddei, unlike amauri, has italian ancestry (grandparents on both sides are italian-born) as his surname would suggest. regardless, i’m pretty sure he wont be considered. i’d rather see a guy like abate given an opportunity (or even maggio) in order to give the nt some much-needed offensive spark and pace. taddei is a hard-working winger who is tactically solid and is occasionally capable of moments of ‘brilliance’. however, his real asset (on roma) is his ability to cover defensively for offensive-minded fullbacks who are less dependable on the defensive side of the ball (eg cicinho). i don’t think that there are any gaps to fill in that dept. for the azzurri nor would taddei be much of an upgrade from what we have already imo.

Posted from Canada

By Michele Stasio | February 24th, 2009 at 4:56 pm

Pazzini-Rossi up front with Cassano behind them next game?

By alessio | February 24th, 2009 at 6:32 pm

i don’t think that there are any gaps to fill in that dept. for the azzurri nor would taddei be much of an upgrade from what we have already imo.

Uhhhhh Zambrotta and Grosso both leave plenty of gaps.

But yeah, Taddei is shit, and I don’t care if he’s got a great grandfather from Turin, he’s not Italian.

Posted from Spain

By lamagica | February 24th, 2009 at 7:29 pm

uhhhhhh, since when did zambrotta and grosso play right wing for the national team?

By Bobo | February 24th, 2009 at 11:56 pm

Alessio, if I recall correctly, at least 3 out of 4 of Taddei’s grandparents were from Veneto. He’s Italian by blood but can we really compare Taddei to a guy like Rossi who actually wants to play for Italy? And the biggest reason not to call him up is that he’s shit. I thought we wanted more consistency on the team? Call up Abate or Maggio for pete’s sake.

By Michele Stasio | February 25th, 2009 at 10:37 am

Who care’s either way Taddei is not Azzuri material so its a pointless argument…how about Motta though he looks like the future and Santon looked calm for an 18 yr old as well yesterday…

By Michele Stasio | February 25th, 2009 at 10:40 am

I also agree with Alessio.. Miccoli should get a call right now..im not a big fan but he is playing well

Pazzini is another I had high hopes for him and hes finally showing his worth after next season i can see him on the World Cup squad with G.Rossi starting.

By Vittal | February 27th, 2009 at 3:12 am

I think both Santon and Motta played well for their respective teams in the CL. Considering their ages and the stage at they were playing I think they are the future of the National team Fullbacks. Maybe they’ll get to being worldclass in a few years time or earlier. But they warrant keeping an eye on. Chiellini has one of the centre back slots sewn up, the other is up for grabs. But don’t you think that for something like the worldcup, it’s good to take couple of youngsters along? Not as starters but at least as backup. To give them the experience of being in a sitaution like that and surrounded by players like that.

By gio | February 27th, 2009 at 5:16 pm

“The only players one is allowed to talk about in regards to the national team is Roma and Juventus. Talk of none of the other 18 teams in Serie A are allowed.” …

correction,MAD, 17 other teams, Inter doesn’t count as an Italian team

and Ferarri? you meant like Matteo? what are you talking about? and Balzac? or are you talking about the deceased French novelist?

By Julian | February 28th, 2009 at 12:39 am

Vittal- I’ve been hugely impressed with Motta and Santon especially. Let’s not forget that he’s only 18 and almost completely snuffed out Ronaldo, which is no easy task. If he keeps his head on straight Lippi’s comparison to Maldini might not be far off the mark.

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