Comments on: Italy-Brazil Review: Or, A Microcosm of Lippi’s Reign

By: Riccardo

Riccardo — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:02:57 +0000

Brazil 1970 all home based on reflection would need to be included, but that is not the main point of the article. after 1970 how many teams had Italian based players who were learning the Italian managerial and tactical methods?

By: Soccer Mario

Soccer Mario — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:08:05 +0000

Response to Riccardo — Argentina ‘78 won with only 1 player playing outside of Argentina, Mario Kempes (Valencia, was the top scorer in Spain).

By: Shuli Italia

Shuli Italia — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:49:12 +0000

Antonio Conte would be an ideal coach; the following players would restore Italia’s pride:
Buffon
Motta, Santacroce, Grosso, Santon,
Brighi, DDR, D’Agostino, Pirlo,
Pazzini, Rossi
Substitutes:
Amelia, Consigli
Gamberini, Criscito, Andreolli
Abate, Marchisio, De Ceglie, Aquillani,
Giovinco, Cassano
That is my pick, thank you so much Italy U-21 for your qualification to Euro U-21 semi-final.

By: George

George — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:42:38 +0000

It’s funny to see all these Italians biting the hand that feed them!

By: kat

kat — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:23:44 +0000

How ’bout tis guy as Newman’s potential replacement?
http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/?action=read&id=157059

By: riccardo

riccardo — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:13:43 +0000

Requiem state in Pace – death of a footballing nation. A plea from the heart. 22/6/09
Last night was the culmination of a series of events that has led to the demise of the least appreciated of the great nations of soccer. The last time a low like this expressed itself was in the 1966 defeat by North Korea. The last few games has taken us back 40 years in our developement. This is not an overstatement or a knee jerk reaction.
One need only look at serie A. The last decade has seen the corrosion of our status as the top league to play in. Too many foreigners , dare I say grace our fields, this has always been the case from Liedholm to Charles to Maradona to Luther Blisset?????? why so many 2nd rated foreigners are now coming into our game is one of the major problems, stifling the developement of our youth, who are already restarined by employment laws causing them to sign contracts abroad since none can legally be offered in Italy till they are 18. Bleeding our sytem to this anaemic state we have the now.
Yes we have the best Under 21 team and they have always been a joy and pride to watch. How many of them will come through to play with the big boys or even get the chance to strutt their stuff weekly on the holiest of grasses. Giovinco a rare talent, who if Brazilian we would have paid millions for him to wera the red and black or the white and black and he would have played every week. Rossi came to Parma young and allowed to go to Man Utd. now sold to play abroad, where is the logic. Sell a player like that to spend the money on foreign players who should be his boot boy.
The bleeding started internally with the regular `calciopoli` and `scandalous` stories that infested our nation. This has now led to out and out menstruation leeking our life blood to other nations. Why is England now a good team? The same players play, but the tactics and discipline are Italian now thanks to Capello. Ancelotti ,Trapatoni, Ranieri and Zola all carry on the tradition of teaching and collaborating.
as stated foreigners always played in our game and went on to use what they had learned to benefit their own nation. But then it was controlled by the 3 foreigner rule which Bosman, probably the main reason, ruined. Just need to look at top managers and see how many have had contact with
Serie A. either as players or managers or second coaches with the experience.
Lippi thought he could do a Pozzo and make a managerial comeback, but the sun must have been hot on his head on the boat in Viareggio the past few years. We were lucky in Germany in 2006, lets not kid ourselves on. He put together a squad that were a team in every sense of the word, proud to be there and hungry, they chased every ball and fought tooth and nail for it in midfield, giving the whole 90 minutes in blood and gruts. The medals and accolades have killed all that enthusiasm, laurel wreaths and ubiquitous treasures have finally taken their toll. Big Players started leaving , Cannavaro to Spain, Toni Germany etc. This has been going on slowly for years, England and Italy probably the only 2 teams to win the world cup with home based players in the past 50 years. Previously the only great to leave and play abroad was probably Zola, who was never really given a chance in Italian blue.
Serie A champions this year was a team of foreigners including a foreign manager, Milan regularly fielded 5 as well, so where is it going to end or are we on a fast slide to hell with a desolate wilderness beckoning our footballing hopes and desires or shall we rise from this disaster and appreciate our young players bleeding them on the grasses of serie A. Lippi has to open his eyes to this, his tactics are not unique any more they are beatable and we have given the weapons thro these players and mangagers going abroad teaching our `enemies` how to defeat us. We need a team of fast attacking minded young players who will play not thinking about the beaches of Sardegna and Forte dei Marmi while on the pitch in June. They are paid enough to at least give a performance worthy of the lifestyle football has given them.
Where is the `fantasista` in Lippi s game which seems too rigid for any development of `champagne football` which Buffon says is not our style. Shite.
Even under cattenaccio we had style. Pirlo is no Rivera, De Rossi is no Baggio, Iaquinta is no Totti, Toni is no `player`. Lets use Cassano, Giovinco
Rossi Motta etc. Give them their chances they could not do any worse.

By: gio

gio — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:22:24 +0000

Cassano? sorry, but Pazzini joined Samp in January and scored as many goals as Cassano did all year, plus only one was from a penalty whereas Cassano had 4 from penalties.

i also thought the guy should have been called up for the last two years, but not anymore. Cassano used to have flare but he is lazy and has lost much of his pace and touch. did you guys watch him play? if he were put on now, after 3 games you would all be saying the same thing as you are saying about Gila and Toni. forget Cassano.

By: Marco

Marco — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:20:36 +0000

Listen Guus would be a breath of fresh air for the FIGC, but we are Italian, and we do mold the best coaches in the world no doubt about that! Capello would have been a great coach, and had he not taken the England job I would think he’d at least have to be considered for the Azzurri position following Donadoni. But come to think of it, I think Donadoni was in doubt well before the Euro cup. He was never given a fair shot. I hope at Napoli he is met with much success and in 10 years or so returns to the Azzurri we should be rounding about out next cup contention by then.

Spalletti, I reckon with the best crop of Azzurri players can create a titanicly fast and agressive national team. His methodology could actually make the Azzurri look far superior than what we saw from Brazil or Spain. Especially with guys like Cassano, Foggia, GIovinco, Balotelli, Iaquinta, all fast and very skilled players. Throw in D’Agostino and we may have a match made in heaven. I could just picture the abundance of goals.

Here’s what we are facing in Calcio maybe for the first time in generations. What we have coming up is are hugely talented midfield and offensive players, the likes of which can completely rejuvinate calcio and make it attractive again. I don’t remember such promise, perhaps when Del Piero and Inzaghi were young, but I doubt it. Our defense is going to be the question mark for the next world cup. I think that will be our weakest point. Goaltending, I personally would go with only Buffon for another 5 years. Then if someone does come along, who looks amazing, then we can consider switching him up. Although the Goalie at the u21 euro is making an extremely strong case for himself with some stunning play.

I know my last post and this post seem a tad bi-polar, but when there is so much promise and opportunity available to the national team and Lippi ignores it, I just cannot help feel that we are wasting such a golden opportunity. We have a hand full of games left, inclusions need to start now. Or else we may be in danger of not qualifying and how nice would it be to be considered ‘THE FIRST WORLD CHAMPIONS NOT TO QUALIFY FOR THE WORLD CUP’ or as they say in Italy “THE FIRST CAMPIONE DEL MONDO NOT TO QUALIFY FOR THE FOLLOWING WORLD CUP” I’m sure it has a nice ring to it to those who are jealous of us, but heck, let’s not give them those opportunities.

By: Marco

Marco — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:38:42 +0000

Of course Cassano would have made a difference. Anyone who believes he wouldn’t is fooling themselves. The guy is the reason why Sampa finished mid table, without him they’d be in Serie B today.

And as for Lippi coming clean. In the first paragraph he shifts the blame to Donadoni. You know something, had he been watching these players instead of having his head up his ass he would have realized that Cannavaro, Zambrotta, Toni et al, are not where they used to be. They are actually very far from it.

I will believe there is change in the air when I see that there is change. I am tired of listening to this old man rant and rave about nonsense. He was very lucky at the world cup 2006, not to have played Argentina, Brazil, Neatherlands, or even England or Portugal. Instead he played a run down Germany (went to penalties with Argentina), and a France team whose average age was 36. The funny thing is, Italy was the one who looked dead on their feet for most of the game. Call a Spade a Spade, the team he put together is the worst in Generations.

Oh btw, for those of you who are going to argue against me, just note they couldn’t beat a 9 man USA and had difficulties against a 10 man Czech. Maybe Brazil should have played with 7 men to give them a fighting chance.

By: forzaroma44

forzaroma44 — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:59:10 +0000

Noone talking about cassano? I think he would make a difference.