Pagelle on Corriere Della Sera

I’ll give mine

Buffon 6
Zaccardo 6
Cannavaro 6.5
Nesta 6.5
Grosso 6
De Rossi 6
Pirlo 7
Perrotta 7
Totti 6
Toni 7
Gilardino 6.5
Iaquinta 7
Camoranesi 6

Posted from  Italy

That’s very modest stuff, Pao! I never know how to give player rankings (though I constantly do it anyway) because I can never tell whether to rank the player in relation to his potential or in relation to how the others played. For example, I thought Totti was deadly on the attack while he was out there, so I might be inclined to give him an 8. But as to his potential, he was probably only a 6.5 or a 7, which is still pretty good considering that he is still trying to get fit.

What do you all think about ratings and the quandary that I have?

Posted from  United Kingdom

pao it just shows how bias you are to italian players by those ratings

Posted from  Canada

I disagree completely, Fabio. In fact, I think that Pao’s rankings are far more balanced than the ones I would have given. Italy played a fine game against a worthy opponent. It only stands to reason that the player rankings should reflect that.

Posted from  United Kingdom

I’m guessin Fabio was being sarcastic. Hard to tell on the internet.

Posted from  United States

Buffon 7
Zaccardo 6
Cannavaro 7
Nesta 7
Grosso 6
De Rossi 6
Pirlo 8
Perrotta 8
Totti 7
Toni 7
Gilardino 5
Camoranesi 6
Iaquinta 6
Del Piero 5
Iaquinta 7
Camoranesi 6

Well Lang and Fabio, I see you are posting from UK and Canada, maybe here in Italy we have a different way of ranking..My 6 means that it was the player played well, a 7 means a very good game. You can’t see an 8 very often here. So my 6 and 7 mean a quite good game by italian players. Lang interesting point when you say whether to rank in relation to his potential or not. Probably it would be fair not to rank them in relation to their potential but it’s not that easy. If I have to rank Totti in relation to his potential maybe I would have given him a 5, but i think he played quite well, considering his recent injury and the emotional impact of a debut so I gave him a 6 (maybe i could give him a 6.5).
Forza Italia, I am thinking we gonna have some fun during this WC.

Posted from  Italy

Yeah, Pao, I have noticed that rankings in Italian papers are very level. I also think that you’re right about relation to other players rather than potential.

Posted from  United Kingdom

Great news! Zambrotta has played in a light scrimmage with the team this morning and has been declared fit to return to full duty with the Azzurri.

Now the questions begin: who will be out of the lineup, Grosso or Zaccardo? I would normally say Zaccardo no question, but apparently Lippi was unhappy with Grosso’s performance last night. I still think it will be Zaccardo, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Posted from  United Kingdom

That *is* good news. I think Zambrotta needs to play on whatever side they expect Beasley will play for the US. (Beasley was lost on the right and should be switched back left, but with Arena who knows.) So tentatively I’d say Zambrotta on the right and Grosso on the left.

Posted from  United States

Yeah, that’s a good point, Jay. I honestly think that the US will give us some problems. They are far more capable than yesterday’s drubbing showed, and will be out to prove their worth. I really hope that Italy doesn’t revert to underestimating our opponents. The next match will be do or die for the Americans.

Posted from  United Kingdom

I hope Zambrotta on the left and Oddo on the right. Oddo has improved his defensive skills during the last couple of years and still his offensive skills are great. Beasley (maybe the best american player) should have to take care of Oddo more than be offensive with Oddo in. Let’s wait and see but I think Lippi will put Zambrotta on the right with Grosso on the left.

Posted from  Italy

I’ve heard rumors that Beasley will be benched for this game, so the Azzurri might not even see him. Also, I’m not sure Lippi was unhappy with Grosso’s performance, just that he wanted him to get forward more. I don’t think there was much chance for him to get forward because he never really had much support or cover on the left side since de Rossi and Perrotta were much more central. I think Lippi will go with Zambrotta on the right and Grosso on the left. I don’t think he has the confidence in Zaccardo or Oddo like he has in Grosso or Zambrotta.

Other than the Zambrotta change (assuming he’s ready to go) do you think Lippi changes the starting eleven?

Posted from  United States

I think the Zambrotta change will be the only one. Perrotta played well enough to keep his spot, Camo not well enough to take it. Same goes for the forwards- Gila maybe was not great but he helped sustain the attacks, and Toni was oh so close to finishing, just got unlucky. Iaquinta looked active, but his goal was not particularly skillful.

Does Grosso normally play on the left for Palermo?

Posted from  United States

Vittorio, Grosso plays on the left, Zaccardo on the right and Barzagli in the center for Palermo. Pretty amazing that only Milan and Juve have more players on the Azzurri than the Rosanero.

Posted from  United States

O ragazzi sono bloccata qui a londra vedrai Italia vincera’ il mondiale Forza Italia

Posted from  United Kingdom

Hopefully Del Piero will play vs Germany. Totti is just not good.

Posted from  Israel

tutti gli azzurri sono amirati da me italiana a`l estero

Posted from  United States