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So What Exactly Is This “Confederations Cup?”

June 11th, 2009 | By: Paul | 17 Comments »

A Little History and Explanation Before Our Azzurri Head South

Ahh! June has finally arrived! The warm weather, the end of the Serie A season, and…..what? Azzurri football? But this isn’t a World Cup or Euro year?!?
For those of you who have been living under a rock the past few months, the Confederations Cup is just around the corner. Our beloved Azzurri are gearing up and getting ready to take the field in only 3 days! So while we all complain about how guys older than Giuseppe Meazza are still getting call-ups and what craziness Antonio Cassano may result to if he doesn’t get a nod (Maybe crying again?), let’s also take a look at the tournament ahead

Tournament History

Basically, 2 of the past 3 World Cup Champs (including Italy), were not involved in the Confederations Cup prior to their triumph.
Ohh, and here’s another good one: THE WINNER HAS NEVER GONE ON TO WIN THE WORLD CUP THE FOLLOWING YEAR. I say its time to make some history!

Sure, winning this thing would be sweet. More silverware, more bragging rights, and definitely more confidence in our team. But a win historically doesn’t mean we’re a lock to win the WC, and an early exit certainly doesn’t mean failure next year. Let’s just be optimistic.

A Guide to Making Your Next Month of Work Exciting and Non-productive

As you can see above, there will be 4 different host cities: Johannesburg (Host of the opening match and final), Tshwane/Pretoria, Rustenburg, and Mangaung/Bloemfontein. The stadia are fairly old and defiantly not as nice as what we see in Europe.
It also looks like we definitely have the harder draw. The US could provide an early slip-up if the lads aren’t ready in the opening match. But if all goes as assumed, the loser of the final match vs. Brazil will have the enjoyment of playing Spain in the semi-final. Ohh joy. It should be a pretty entertaining tournament!

You Got Me the Schedule, Now Where Do I Watch This Stuff?

* If you’re lucky enough to be watching in the homeland, the games will be shared between RAI and SKY Italia
* ESPN and ESPN 2 will be showing all of the matches in the US. Live matches and replays will be available on ESPN360.com (Great quality, and I know it’s free to Verizon customers)
* For those who can’t do any of the above, streams are sure to be up on the good ‘ol sites: myp2p.eu, atdhe.net, channelsurfing.net, etc.

And if the Games Themselves Weren’t Exciting Enough…
The Return of an Old Pal

What would an Azzurri tournament be without refereeing controversies?
Well, get ready for some more fun. Guess who’s back?

If you know who it is without reading the next sentence, props to you. It’s Jorge Larrionda, the man who made sure 2006 wasn’t controversy free. He was the referee for the group match versus The US. Wouldn’t it just be too ironic if he was appointed to our opening match (against the US)? FIFA should know better, but then again, look at Korea 2002 or Sep Blatter’s “failure” to show up and hand out the winner’s medals in ‘06; they don’t have the best track record with Italy =p But, if there is any such thing as good refereeing news, Massimo Busacca, the official who did the Champions League Final (and did a great job in my opinion), will be along for the ride too.

The First Match is 3 Days Away, Time to Get Pumped

And here’s a playlist that may just get you excited for some Azzurri football. Hopefully if you’re reading this blog, you’re fine with committing treason for a day and rooting against the US. Going against your whole country is tough, time to get pumped and support your Azzurri!
1. Azzurro

2. Cuore Azzurro

3. Estate Italiana

4. Inno di Mameli (National Anthem)

5. Seven Nation Army (The Concert; techno remix)

6. Samba e Gol (That catchy song played after each goal in Euro ‘08)

Post any other good songs in the comment section! US game preview coming next!

Tags: Group E

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Comments

By gio | June 11th, 2009 at 11:44 pm

nice post. very multi-media.

that cuore-azzurro number was somewhere between hysterical and embarrassing.

love the mention of bad reffing, Korea 2002 and the Blatter snub. im no conspiracy theorist but everyone should know about how corrupt the whole fifa thing is. even 2006 was won against all odds. that Malouda penalty was such bullshit. makes me want to vomit all over Freance evey time i think about it.

nuf said. look forward to some mediocre performances in this cup.

By gio | June 12th, 2009 at 12:27 am

oh, and wsith regard to the “Lippi” question.

i know he has won a lot and i respect him very much. i even see to some extent what he is trying to do, because as much as the second half of Italy v. N. Ireland was a firecracker show, the first half was pretty crappy to me and looked like our u-21 team playing a real, albeit not very good, experienced team.

but one has to question his tactics somewhat if the majority of people see that Montolivo sucks, Gattuso isn’t what he was, the 4-3-3 went out of style about 5 years ago, etc. it’s not like there is just one crazy guy running around screaming ‘Lippi is a numb-nut’, manyb people see it. and even though we all do not agree on who should be in, there is a clear general consensus that the old guys are not quite pulling it.

IDEA:

Lippi should play an ‘old guys’ vs. ‘new guys’ scrimmage and see how each team performs (and let us all watch so we can see if we are wrong or right)

Motta—-Gamberini—–Chiellini—–Dossena
——————DeRossi——————-
DiNatale————Rossi————-Foggia
——Quagliarella———Iaquinta———

vs.

Del Piero————Toni————-Camoranesi
Ambrosini————Pirlo—————Gattuso
Grosso—-Legrottaglie—-Canavarro—-Zambrotta

personally, Pirlo and Canavarro need to be starters, and Zambrotta and Camoransi can ride the bench … they are very valuable in skill as well as experience.

the more i think about it, we do really need experieince at the back line. i think this is why New Zealand were able to score on us so easily … though Amelia really did have some major tactical errors.

By Chris | June 12th, 2009 at 6:45 am

In the absence of Foggia and Cassano, Lippi’s starting 11 will surely just look like his 06 winning team, with the not particularly stellar additions from Udinese’s attack and the presence of Rossi wasted on the bench,

I’d love to see this starting 11 sometime in the next two years.

Santon–Canavarro–Chiellini–Grosso

——–De Rossi—Pirlo————

—-Foggia—–Rossi—–Quagliarella

————-Balotelli————–

Lippi won’t pick Cassano, unless he moves to Milan, Juve or Inter. So until then, there’s not much point even putting him in hypothetical team.

Posted from United Kingdom

By Azzurri1 | June 12th, 2009 at 9:50 am

Formation I like:

Buffon

Zambro/Santon Canna Chiellini Grosso/Santon

DDR Pirlo
Camo Foggia

Rossi

Iaquinta/Pellisier/Pazzini/Balotelli

Gattuso can sub Camo, DDR or Pirlo and close games out.

By Chris | June 12th, 2009 at 1:07 pm

So today we’ve beaten a local South African side 6-0 as a warm up to the tournament. As I suspected, the starting midfield and attack was the rather familiar sight of:

—-Gattuso—-De Rossi—Pirlo

—Camoranesi — Toni– Iaquinta

The defence had Legrottaglie in, rather than Canavarro, with Zambrotta, Grosso and Chiellin making up the rest of the backline. Pretty much same old same old then! Oh, and Gilardino came on to score a brace.

Posted from United Kingdom

By alessio | June 12th, 2009 at 1:19 pm

Cannavaro is shit….Legro-Chiellini have chemistry.

Posted from United States

By Mike | June 12th, 2009 at 2:32 pm

It’s a ho-hum event. The biggest story will be how South Africa as a nation comes through this tournament, especially around security and politics. If all’s quiet, then all’s well. Otherwise, who cares who wins, unless Egypt, NZ or Iraq pulls off a stunner. Hell, I guess the U.S. should be in that group of minnows as well.
http://startingeleven.blogspot.com/

Posted from United States

By PSknights | June 12th, 2009 at 5:17 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wnot3HqyWtk My Italia by the diskjockeys, its not really about the Azzurri but still gets me pumped.

as for my squad preference (which it seams the post is turning into)

–Santon–Cannavaro–Chiellini–Motta
———-De Rossi—————
—-Brighi————-Pirlo——
———-Cassano————-
—–Rossi———–Pazzini—-

Posted from United States

By kqql | June 13th, 2009 at 12:11 am

Last test was a training game vs a Local team.

Starting line up was:

4-3-3

Buffon
Zambro-Legro-Chiellini-Grosso
Rino-Pirlo-De Rossi
Camo-Toni-Iaquinta

Score 6-0

1st Half Goals
Pirlo, Toni, Iaquinta

2nd Half Goals
Gila x 2, Quags

http://www.video.mediaset.it/mplayer.html?sito=sportmediaset&data=2009/06/12&id=3942&from=link

By kqql | June 13th, 2009 at 8:09 am

Canna is likely to miss the US game and there is good possiblity he could miss the rest of the group games too.

Anyway, here is my Caption for this Pic.

“Why can’t for once start as a CF for the Azzurri? ”
http://www.tuttosport.com/images/62/C_3_Media_813762_immagine_l.jpg

By kqql | June 13th, 2009 at 8:13 am

Italia NT arriving in South Africa 6/8/09

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHqAAZsLTg4&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ebigsoccer%2Ecom%2Fforum%2Fshowthread%2Ephp%3Fp%3D17945842%23post17945842&feature=player_embedded

By kqql | June 13th, 2009 at 8:15 am

Sorry here is the correct link

Italia NT arriving in South Africa 6/8/09
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHqAAZsLTg4

By gio | June 13th, 2009 at 1:12 pm

Canavarro is shit, Alessio? that is why we conceded so many goals against New Zealand, a B level team ranked 82 in the fifa-bullshit world ranking.
Chiellini is very good and Legrottaglie as well, but Canavarro has so much better instincts from all his experience; the lack of such was evident in the first half of the N.Ireland and the whole of New Zealand…oh, and Real did win 2 back to back league titles with him there. better get used to him seeing himnmore as he is now a jailbird again.

By gio | June 13th, 2009 at 1:14 pm

Chris, i love your line-up. i prefer Motta over Santon and i am not convinced DeRossi and Pirlo play well side by side, but it looks reall dangerous.

By alessio | June 13th, 2009 at 2:36 pm

Gio, did you watch the game or are you just spouting shit? Amelia was at fault for all of those goals. If San Gigi was playing, we wouldn’y have conceded. Barcelona 6-2 Real, Liverpool 4-0 Real. Cannavaro was in both of those games and raped one-on-one.

Posted from United States

By kqql | June 13th, 2009 at 2:50 pm

Here are more details on the training game (See vid above)
Tshwane 0 – 6 Italy

Ist Half
1-0 Pirlo (F.K) 1-0 @ 19″
2-0 Toni @ 33″
3-0 Iaquinta @ 37″

2nd Half
4-0 Gila @ 63″
5-0 Quags @ 76″
6-0 Gila @ 93″

Line UP First Half
ITALY (4-3-3)
Buffon;
Zambro, Legro, Chiellini, Grosso;
Gattuso, Pirlo, De Rossi;
Camo, Toni, Iaquinta

@ 2nd half 4-3-3 but more like 4-3-1-2
Buffon (62′ De Sanctis);
Zambro (57′ Santon), Gamberini, Chiellini, Grosso (62′ Dossena);
Camo (62′ Pepe), De Rossi (62′ Palombo), Montolivo;
……………..Rossi;
Toni (62″ Gila)……..Iaquinta (62′ Quags)
.

By gio | June 13th, 2009 at 8:14 pm

yes Alessio, i saw the game and i agree, Amelia should have done a better job on all three goals; however, 2 of the three, from the set pieces, would have never reached the heads of the scorers if they had been marked properly in the box. the commentators said this in the game when both goals were scored. this is exactly where experience comes in.

Cannavaro’s got it, Legrottaglie and Chiellini much less so and Gamberini not at all.

Comments are closed