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Italy-Egypt Preview

June 16th, 2009 | By: Julian | 421 Comments »

First and most importantly, Cannavaro looks to be back. No he’s not the same player he used to be. Yes, he is slow. Yes, we’re in an transition stage and in desperate need of youth, but it’s pretty clear that our back line is in desperate need of experience. Expect Legro to sit on the bench and Canna to start.

Italia News

Now, onto the next game: Egypt are a very good team. I saw them play Brazil and they played a very technical and tactical game. They’re fast and pacey and don’t like to lose the ball. I fear they could give us some problems physically, but I expect our players to hold out and win. If we do win this one, we should be through to the semis, no matter what we do against Brazil (assuming Brazil beats the US). Of course I’d love for us to beat Brazil, but I’d rather it not have to come to that. We need to take the game to Egypt. We need to pressure them from minute one and hold onto the ball Guardiola style.

But most of all, we need Rossi to start. He was fantastic against the US, and really knows how to play. He can shoot and pass, and we need dynamic guys like him to take the game to Egypt. Monto also had a decent game when he came on last time, but I think Gattuso should start cause we’ll likely need two DMs to cover our back four. Him and DDR fit the bill quite well. And after Pirlo’s magnificent performance last game, he also deserves to start.

The tricky part is who should partner Rossi up front. If Lippi sticks with the 4-3-3, we’ll need two guys in addition to him. Gila was crap so he should be out. Iaquinta wasn’t bad but missed many chances, and I doubt Egypt is going to give us as many as the US did. Toni actually might be the right guy. He still can’t score but he came very close last game. More importantly, in the short amount of time he was on, he found more space and shots on goal than Gila did. And finally, the third guy should be someone who we can count on in the clutch- so who else besides Mr Bullshit Goal himself would be appropriate?

So the front 6 are good. I expect DDR, Pirlo, Gattuso, Toni, Rossi, and Quags to play (or at least, I’d prefer if they did). The back 5 concern me though. Buffon was all over the place against America, though he’s still the best we have. The ball’s flight is what seems to trouble him, but I hope he practices and learns it’s flight patterns better before next game. Grosso just plays his heart out for us and he was stellar on Monday, and Zambrotta wasn’t bad either. Until Santon and Motta get called up/more playing time, these two are still pretty good. It’s the centrebacks that concern me.

GC and Legro were all kinds of mediocre last time. GC gave away a penalty in an otherwise decent performance, but I thought Legro was pretty bad. Every time the US countered it looked as if our defense was scared shitless. The only problem is that we don’t exactly have the depth to replace them. I doubt Gamberini would be any better. Since Cannavaro is back, I expect him to partner GC in defense.

Egypt News

Roster:

1 GK Essam El-Hadary

16 GK Abdel Wahed Al Sayed

23 GK Mohamed Sobhy

2 DF Mahmoud Fathallah

3 DF Ahmed Al-Muhammadi

4 DF Ahmed Said “Uka”

6 DF Hani Said

7 DF Ahmed Fathy

14 DF Sayed Moawad

15 DF Ahmed Samir Farag

20 DF Wael Gomaa

5 MF Ahmed Khairy

8 MF Hosny Abd Rabo

10 MF Ahmed Eid Abdel Malek

11 MF Mohamed Shawky

12 MF Mohamed Soliman “Humos”

13 MF Abdelaziz Tawfik

17 MF Ahmed Hassan

22 MF Mohamed Aboutrika

9 FW Mohamed Zidan

18 FW Ahmed Abdel-Ghani

19 FW Mohamed Abou Greisha

21 FW Ahmed Raouf

Based on what I saw last game, Shawky and Zidan are the two to watch. They both knew how to play some serious footy, as they were able to pressure the Brazilians but also interchange positions and passes effortlessly with teammates.

Preview

This is going to be a fast, physical game. No doubt about that. Egypt are very, very good at moving the ball about and are capably of playing some nice joga bonito on their day. They completely held their own against Brazil, which alone speaks volumes of their quality. Some things to keep in mind:

They absolutely suck on set pieces. During the regular run of play, they’re quite good, but on corners and free kicks, they’re bad. They conceded 2 goals against Brazil on corners, and a third from a PK. We got very close to scoring on corners and free kicks last game, so I expect our boys to take advantage of this. I should also note, though, that they only conceded one goal during the run of play- and it was via a fantastic piece of skill by Kaka. So I expect it to be tough to score on them in regular play unless Rossi whips out his left foot again.
They love to play on the flanks. Grosso and Zambro are going to have to sit further back this game, because Egypt loves to come up the sides of the field and cross the ball into the middle. If Grosso, great as he was against the US, repeats his performance, they will score. He’ll end up too far up the field on a counterattack and they will fully exploit that.

So how should we play? I’d go with a 4-4-2, and try to play a possession game. Keep the fullbacks back to prevent from countering, and make sure we have the ball at all times. Every corner/free kick should be a direct attempt to score as long as we have bigger guys like Chiellini and Iaquinta in the box. Finally, we have to take the game to Egpyt and show them that we don’t fear anyone.

And why should we? We’re the World Champions. Not them. Not Brazil. And despite what Spain likes to think, they aren’t either.

Tags: Brazil, Cannavaro, Confederations Cup, Egypt, Gattuso, Grosso, Group E, Iaquinta, Italy, Kaka, Marcello Lippi, Monto, Preview, Rossi, USA, Zambrotta

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 421 comments.

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By 9 champs leagues | June 20th, 2009 at 4:34 pm

edited

Posted from Spain

By 9 champs leagues | June 20th, 2009 at 4:35 pm

Edited- I’m getting really tired of this. Julian

Posted from Spain

By lev lucien | June 20th, 2009 at 5:01 pm

??? whats this douches problem?

By alessio | June 20th, 2009 at 5:15 pm

Can’t we like permanently blacklist this guy?

Posted from United States

By Weston | June 20th, 2009 at 5:25 pm

jackie, lol at the link. heres one even better for 9 champs league:
http://juventus.theoffside.com/team-news/photo-of-the-day-la-vecchia-signoras-pissed.html
credit goes to roberto

Posted from United States

By Stasio | June 20th, 2009 at 5:39 pm

Quick question…if we draw and Egypt draw we advance right?

By kat | June 20th, 2009 at 5:45 pm

Will depend on goal-differences.

By Weston | June 20th, 2009 at 7:03 pm

we are ahead on goal differance, and if we all draw it stays that way so yes.

Posted from United States

By Paolo | June 20th, 2009 at 7:27 pm

As a true Italian supporter, it’s gonna hurt to watch, but i think the Italians are gonna take a deserved shit kicking tomorrow. Both Lippi and Buffon, whom I love, have downplayed the confederation cup and considered it a World Cup warmup. I agree that it’s not a huge tournament but FUCK YOU! If your wearing the Italian crest you fight with heart for any tournament and any title. They don’t seem to have this attitude. All these Italian players are talking shit to the media playing this world champion card and getting beatings from random teams. After what happened at the Euros, Italians should not be saying that they’re sorting out their shit. Their shit should be sorted out and they should be demonstrating that they are not to be fucked with! Buffon is depleting in terms of quality, and Lippi, whom I called for with desperation to come back, is proving that he’s nothing but stubborn and stupid. WE HAVE NOT WON THE CONFEDERATION CUP! We will rarely have a chance to be in it! And these motherfuckers are looking at it like it’s practice. They should have stayed in Italia and not wasted everyones time by showing up to the fucking thing if that’s the case. Honestly Fuck It! I hope they take a fucking shit kicking to Brazil. A beating that they cant make any excuses for! 5-0! That’s what these arrogant pricks need. I love the Italian national team with all my heart but they will keep thinking they’re superstars until they get pumped. Stupidity and bullshit like not picking Cassano and other brilliant youngsters, along with relying on pieces of shit like Luca Toni and Gilardino who have no value, is unacceptable. This the Italian National team and everyone is stating the same thing and keeps calling for the same but it falls on deaf ears.Never in my life have I seen so many Italian supporters trash talking there team and pointing out flaw. Never have I seen them so modest. And that’s all coming at a time where we are currently the champions of the world. The true Italians don’t give a fuck about that. We care to see our team in the right direction defending our title with pride and honor every single fucking game we play no matter how shit the tournament or how easy the friendly. FORZA BRAZIL for tomorrows game! An Italian win will only encourage embarassment on the biggest stage of all in 2010! They didn’t come here to win so they shouldn’t fucking win!

By mikederob | June 20th, 2009 at 7:28 pm

where are julian and paul now? there’s lots to write about guys!

Posted from Australia

By mikederob | June 20th, 2009 at 7:31 pm

the line ups lippi has been toying with are still terrible…bloody toni up there, camoranesi, no rossi in the first one and that awful 4-3-3 formation again! i may not even watch the game.
SACK LIPPI BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE, FIGC.

Posted from Australia

By kqql | June 20th, 2009 at 8:01 pm

Hey Mr. Pig…………………………..
…did your mama beat you up gain ? Your life must really suck in the Pig farm en Espana..

P.S there is nothing wrong being black, white, orange, yellow etc since anything is better than being a pig.

By kqql | June 20th, 2009 at 8:09 pm

Disastro Italia contro l’Egitto – Lippi come Bearzot ‘86
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77B_6BSVsTA

By Weston | June 20th, 2009 at 9:35 pm

i agree that italy need to change their tactics if we are to get anything out the brasil game, but i still wouldnt say “forza brasil.” what will we do if we do win with the same 433 and toni/gila/camo/gattuso? that would be fine with me, because we need to accept that right now we are in a transition phase. soon, the old players will die out, lippi will retire, and then we’ll have this to steamroll over the spainish with:

…………..balotelli………….
……….giovinco.rossi…………
…….montolivo.ddr.aquilani…….
criscito.chiellini.santacroce.santon
……………amelia……………
subs:
acquafresca
marchisio
de ceglie
ariaudo
curci

sure we had a dismal euro, but it took spain till penalties to beat us without canna, pirlo, gattuso, iaquinta, and gilardino who were all a lot better then. if we had had them we would have won, russia didnt show up the next game, and germany rolled over easily enough; we could have won the euro. but either way, polkraine 2012 better watch out.

Posted from United States

By Paolo | June 20th, 2009 at 9:59 pm

Weston, it’s the attitude that’s the problem. Go into any locker room in sports and hear a teammate or coach say “don’t worry it’s not that big of a game, it doesn’t matter anyways,” that’s not right at a junior level and certainly should not be demonstrated by the most illustrious soccer team of pride and passion. Those things would never fly in Italia and I don’t know how they are now. And yeah Spain in Euro. We shouldn’t have even been there. Relying on others to get past the group stage??? We had a hard group but never in my life did I see Italy take shitkickings the way they have recently. 3-1 to France in the Euro qualifier? 3-0 to Netherlands (let alone the 1-1 with Romania and the luck we had against a disappointing French side). And now it’s Brazil 2-0 Egypt 1-0. None of all the above things demonstrate a CHAMPION side. I say “Forza Brazil” but i am not physically capable of pulling for any team against Italy even though i know it’s best to take the beating. They obviously have not learned there lesson since euro….if this were a “transition phase” then the old guard should’ve been shipped out long ago. It would be a different story altogether if we had lost with the youngsters.

By Calafuria | June 20th, 2009 at 10:21 pm

I’m of two minds about the game tomorrow. It’s a sad state of affairs but unfortunately it seems to me that the only way things will change is if Italia gets blown out, I mean majorly embarrassed tomorrow. See, if we play well, and god forbid,win, Lippi will be redeemed in everyone’s eyes and his current state of denial (of the need for wholescale change) will continue. If we lose, and lose ugly, everyone on the peninsula will be calling for Lippi’s head, our older “heroes” may be humbled a bit and finally there will begin to be the chance for our younger players to start getting the playing time they need in order to be ready for 2010.
On the other hand wouldn’t it be sweet if we really humbled the great Brazilians and went on to revenge ourselves against the Spanish (they are way too cocky these days). Right now, everyone is doubting Lippi and Italy…it’s the perfect set up, it’s scripted like a hollywood movie…but can we pull it out? I am of two minds.

Posted from United States

By Paul | June 20th, 2009 at 11:26 pm

Sorry for the lack of posts on my part. I have graduation Monday and have been really busy. Maybe I’ll do a live blog tomorrow (that is if I can figure out how to, and get internet access at my Aunts, both should be easy)

After Monday, when I’m freed from high school, expect posts to come much easier. Sorry again.

Posted from United States

By Marco | June 20th, 2009 at 11:35 pm

Paolo and Calafuria, you guys are absolutely right on!

It will be bitter, it will be painful, all my limey friends will see the blood in the water and pounce, yet this will be a huge bonus for us in the run to our second consecutive world cup. We have to get a ’shitkicking’ tomorrow. We need to be out run, out scored and thrown to the wolves. This is what it’s about. Lippi has to start changing this team or shpping out. Nevermind anyone else, how he left Cassano of all people at home is beyond me. How he didn’t use this as an opportunity to test Cassano out is unbelievable. This would be the same as leaving Baggio at home for Euro 96, oh wait, Sacchi did that. You see, we continue to repeat history with this arrogant coaching.

It’s time for Marco Tardelli or Spalletti to brush up and take over from Lippi, he is done like turkey, and tomorrow will show exactly where we stand against some of the worlds best.

Here’s what could happen:
1. If we beat them, Toni, Gila, Camro, Zambro, Canna, et al are going to the world cup and we’ll either not qualify or be out quickly in the first round.

2. If we lose: Lippi will use the scape goat of this not being a real tournament. As we get back a couple of new faces will be added and Di Natale will turn up again, we will get smoked at the world cup

3. We lose: Lippi will get a change of heart and call up Cassano, and change approx 80% of the team

either way Im expecting the first two to occur. Bets anyone?

By Shuli Italia | June 21st, 2009 at 12:01 am

Italy 2 Brazil 0

By mikederob | June 21st, 2009 at 4:30 am

i think we’re in real trouble lads. Everyone says we’re in a transitional period and this is just a mickey mouse tournament, but if that’s the case, how come there aren’t more new facxes on the team and how come lippi isn’t trying anything new at the confederation cup.

the world cup is now next year, only a year away. This confederation cup tournament should have been the perfect time to get some new players and new ideas into the team and give them some good experience against big squads before next year, but lippi has totally wasted that opportunity and even now, three games in to this tournament and a totally embarrassing loss against egypt, he still insists on using this failing formation of 4-3-3 and playing guys like toni who have done nothing for the squad in a very long time.

All this should be considered proof that mr lippi has very little interest in developing this squad and quite frankly his stubborness is making a mockery of our once proud footballing nation. To consistently not call up cassano even though he’s been playing wonderfully and we desperately need someone like him to bring some movement to our game, should set the alarm bells ringing.

I’ve lost faith in the azzurri and im not sure i’ll even bother watching the brazil game. If you want to feel proud of our football, then watch the under 21 team. at least those lads are playing with passion and pace!

Posted from Australia

By mikederob | June 21st, 2009 at 8:02 am

LIPPI MAKES 4 CHANGES TO SQUAD.

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jun21j.html

Posted from Australia

By Paolo | June 21st, 2009 at 8:40 am

THERE YOU HAVE IT:
http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2289/world-cup-2010-confederations-cup/2009/06/21/1338384/lippi-remains-bullish-the-current-project-is-set-to-stay

By giancarlo | June 21st, 2009 at 9:59 am

I’m just hoping Italy can get a draw today and go out of the tournament with a shred of dignity…I fear it might get very ugly though.

Sigh, wonder what could have been with Cassano and Foggia.

By Marco | June 21st, 2009 at 10:03 am

Well come on what is he going to say to be honest? They have a big match to play this afternoon and he was asked a dumb question. If he said yes, the players would be offended and not show up to the game.

Now all that being taken into account, let’s also look at today’s game.
1. If Italy win it has to be decisive. They have to go in there and beat Brazil. The last thing I think anyone wants is that they fluke a 2-0 game, and look mediocre in the process that would simply give us a lot to worry about.
2. If they lose to Brazil, it has to be a big victory, I think a 3-0 drubbing with Brazil controlling the ball for the majority of the game would shake things up a bit. That being said, I was watching Rai this morning, and they showed some clips from the feb match between the two it was interesting. Brazil dismantled them there yet Lippi remained with the same squad.

I fear that whatever happens today we will continue to not see cassano, or any significant change to this team. He will continue down this path of certain doom. I for one never, ever want to see the Azzurri lose. I have been there through all the bullshit, from all the lows to the ultimate high. I stuck through the donadoni era, and watched a disgusting display at the European Championship. I have pained my way through this world cup qualifying campaign all the way to this point in the confederation cup. I hope they win today. But I won’t lie there is a big part of me that really hopes we get blown out of the water today. The pain that we suffer in the short term may well be worth it in the long term. Just remember, this is our world cup in South Africa, it is ours to lose, and ours to win. I believe, contrary to lippi’s remarks, with the technical aspect of our game, and the right integration of youth and experience into this team we can seriously win a second consecutive world cup. No other team, and trust me on this, can clean our shoes when to comes to the current state of all national teams, yet Lippi has done everything possible to try and moth ball this whole idea up. The 2014 world cup, will be held in Brazil, and that will be a true test of our metal. So we have a golden opportunity here, will he take it or not remains to be seen. I just hope following this game and this dreadful tournament we make the serious changes we need, smarten up, clinch this group and win the world cup.

By Jessica | June 21st, 2009 at 3:27 pm

“If they lose to Brazil, it has to be a big victory, I think a 3-0 drubbing with Brazil controlling the ball for the majority of the game would shake things up a bit” – Marco

Marco, can you pick my lotto numbers for me, please??