Gattuso Latest to Catch Injury Bug

It’s a long tournament, at least we hope so, and other teams will have to face these issues as well.

I love Rino’s quote:
“Even if Lippi decided to send me home then I would have chained myself to the team bus. You would have had to call the police to take me away.”

I’m not sure that we should be so nonchalant about this latest injury. I think that Gattuso would have lined up well against Essien, and I think that with Del Piero’s poor form, he should have found a way into the starting 11. It is entirely possible that we will now have Zambrotta, Nesta, Totti and Gattuso out for the game against Ghana – four world-class players. Not many teams in this tournament can claim that kind of bad luck. We also can’t just assume that when these players come back, they will immediately return to top form. It takes time, as we have seen with Totti, to get over the timidness and to get the timing back.

None of this bodes well!

It will definitely take some ‘bite’ out of the midfield and that’s not good. But not many countries have a guy like Perrotta who jump in either. Personally I’m more afraid of losing a guy like Cannavaro. And is there any news on Nesta? I haven’t seen anything in days on him.

Lang, you’re beginning to sound like me. Relax, guy, we’ve got Materazzi!!!! Seriously, we could use more creativity in the midfield, even against Ghana. Essien is overrated IMO. I think he and Appiah are quality players, very strong, but if we can’t beat Ghana with the help of our bench, then we’ve got much bigger issues than Gattuso’s injury.
Also, it’s much easier to regain your touch and match fitness following a niggling muscle injury (as opposed to a debilitating fracture– Totti, Rooney).

Yeah, Jay, I read some of the following quotes and laughed too:

“I’m disappointed, missing two games is a lot for me,” said Gattuso, “I’m not superstitious but I think someone has put a curse on me.”

“But I’m going to the World Cup even if I have to tie myself with a rope to the team bus,” he said.

Gotta love the passion of this man.

Best wishes to Gattuso
I believe he will come back very soon.He is unique and we can see many advantages from this “little” guy.

[...] Italy is a team that continues to make the news. While the players insist that the domestic scandals don’t really matter, the accumulation of injuries is something that can’t be shrugged off. Midfielder Gennaro Gattuso is out for the first two games joining the list of Azzurri players on the sidelines. [...]

I for one am not to concerned about Gattuso, yes he offers guts and commitment but I’m afraid we need more than that. The bright side is that this more or less guarantees De Rossi’s starting place which I hope he takes full advantage of.

I am though worried about Nesta, I don’t think he’ll make it so that means Materazzi starts. I detest him but let’s face facts he starts so best to get behind him.

Zambrotta we all know is out but hopefully he is back for the USA game as he’s a superb player for us.

Totti… I do hope he plays. The guy is class on his day. But with how physical Ghana are it might be a nightmare game for him.

As much as I am looking forward to the World Cup I am now getting very nervous about this opening game. The sooner it starts the better I’ll be. I must admit I am on tenterhooks though at the moment.

FORZA ITALIA

Of course I am not pessimistic enough to think that, even with the injuries, a team like Ghana matches up man-for-man with Italy, bench players or starters. The problem that I foresee is in going down early with some kind of freak goal early and not having the sustainable firepower to battle back. Let’s face it, not too many of the Azzurri have shown that they can play for 90 minutes. It’s not as though all we’ll need is 11 players against Ghana. If that were the case, I’d be more than pleased with:

Buffon
Oddo Cannavaro Materazzi Grosso
Camoranesi Pirlo De Rossi
Gilardino Toni Del Piero

The truth is that Lippi will have to sub on players like Perrotta, Barone, Iaquinta, even perhaps Barzagli or Zaccardo, who lets face it, are fine subs but not world-class players capable of making too much of a mark on the game. With a full strength side, the subs would be players such as Gattuso or De Rossi and Del Piero, each players of class and impact who can win games at the bat of an eyelash.

Luckily, we will have Inzaghi if we need late inspiration in our first two games. I really encourage Lippi to bring him on. Why have him at the World Cup at all if we don’t play him in the last 15 minutes of every game that is tied or that we are losing. We’ve seen him poach so many times before. Poached goals count every bit as much as Totti’s ’spoons’, Toni’s headers or Del Piero’s long runs. Some people seem convinced that they don’t take as much talent. That’s hogwash! Inzaghi reads the game as well as anyone on the Italian side and that is why he is always in position to score on a rebound or deflection. It’s his genius such as the last minute tackle is Nesta’s.

I’m confident that we’ll beat Ghana, but let’s not forget, one slip-up in this group might be all it takes.

Am I crazy or does anyone else thing Barzagli should get the nod over Materazzi? There’s no way he can be worse and you won’t have that horrible feeling of an impending red card. Barzagli has played well for Palermo the past two seasons and was a member of the U-21 champs in 2001. I think he deserves a look.

And I’m with Lang regarding seeing some of Pippo. Although I hope it doesn’t have to be in the circumstances he described. Put him in for the last 10-15 minutes when you are leading to run the D ragged.

As much as Matrix is a danger to the Italian squad. I still have a soft spot for him, and yes he would have to be my favorite player on the squad. :-p

Soft spot ? No offense but your soft spot must be in your head. Matrix is a big big liability. Do you not remember what happened in the WC 2002 when he came on against Croatia and Euro 2004 when he started against Bulgaria ?

I am petrified of him starting, it does look like this will be the case though.

screw materazzi, put in barzagli instead

Let’s not panic boys. I feel that Italy will be well-prepared no matter who goes in on defence. The result is key and I think we will come out flying.
Forza Italia!!

Gennaro un campione come te deve partecipare a questo mondiale,anche perche sarai un grande protagonista.UN AUGURIO DI BUONA GUARIGIONE

Prayers for Nesta’s return. I am afraid of two possibilities with Materazzi, the second being, admittedly, less likely. The first is clear: he gets a red card or gives up a penalty. The second is that in light of FIFA’s rules and all of the criticism he has taken for his rough play, he will actually NOT be aggressive enough. I know it seems unlikely, but it appeared to me that he backed down a bit off that challenge that led to the Swiss goal.

But, I’m with what seems the minority on this board: if Lippi gives him the green light, I am behind him as ever.

fORZA iTALIA