Stars are Alligned for Azzurri World Championship

England have a world cup?

Posted from  United States

Josh it is an honor to be mentioned by you..i have the feeling that we will face brasil much earlier than the final…our Group is dangerous so there is a chance we won’t be first but..but..what if Brasil group gives one the biggest surprises of the cup ? I have a seriuos prediction to make the Aussies will hurt Brasil ….green and gold will prevail but not the samba one (!?) i know it is far stretched but i already put my money on it..

Posted from  United States

likewise, Resco, but I’m not so sure about the Aussies. Don’t get me wrong, I think they’ve got a decent team, but they barely qualified for the cup, and they don’t have anyone other than kewell, viduka, and someone else? not cahill, he’s out. oh well, it’s escaping me, but that’s my point. not even somoeone to stand out. i think croatia could pose problems for brasil, but generally i think they were belessed with another cake division. we’ll need to get out of the gates strong if we want to avoid brasil in the round of 16…. but i’d like to see that match b/c it would invigorate the team’s confidence and boost them all the way to the final.

Posted from  United States

I thought Germany won the ‘66 cup, no?

Posted from  United States

I recon you guys should stop looking at the ’signs’ and look at the performance of the players (and the way the azzuri team played in the last yr. If you look at just that you will see that on paper and in current shape that Italy should win it easy — But as you know luck is never on Italys side and with refs and all you never know whta might happen … Also after luca toni socerd his 31st goal he is still at 21 to 1 on betting sights to win golden boot (are these guys feeling alright) — O well less attention is always better, i mean look at the CL final wid barca and arsenal - rohnaldhinio thought hed go out there and be GOD and win it by him self, instead played the worst game iv sen him play!

Posted from  Australia

Josh | May 19th, 2006 at 10:12 am

I thought Germany won the ‘66 cup, no?
–

Hey c’mon man…don’t take away their only reason to consider themselves a footballing powerhouse.

Posted from  India

Marco brings up an interesting point regarding refs.

With the current calcio scandal, refs may consciously (or subconsciously) feel as though they should make more calls against Italy to show how wonderfully upright and just (sarcasm) they are.

We had better not see another ‘02. What was it… 2 or 3 legitimate goals called back in that tourney?

Posted from  United States

I thought the same thing, Vin, especially after hearing that Italy would not be sending a referee to the tournament. That’s crrrrrrrrap. The vast majority of the referees in Serie A have the highest integrity and worked very hard to be where they are; the world cup is their greatest dream. it’s a shame for them.

as for last WC– the worst was tommasi’s goal against korea. crap.

Posted from  United States

i do look at perfomances all the time and play around with the rest just for the fun of it…i do my homework everyday and take the pulse of many soccer leagues..therefore i am truly confudent that italy has the best shot to champion since 1982 starting with Lippi who has been the only coach since Bearzot who has been able to mold players without humiliating them (Sacchi) or let them be themselves without giving them a structure (Maldini and Trapattoni)so we have the right stuff now it is only a matter of peaking at the right time…i am very happy with this team..i would be ecstathic if Maresca and Lucarelli had been called but for the rest the starting eleven is just the best Italy can give at this moment…

Posted from  United States

Three more reasons why the stars may be alligned for Italy( or another european team)

1) Back in ‘82 Paolo Rossi just got out of jail in time to score some key goals for the Azzurri. Match fixing scandal could be similar to this and inspire Italy to play better. As long as no key players are sent to jail.

2) Since ‘66 the cup has alternated between a european and south american winner. Brazil won in ‘02 so winner should come from Europe.

3) Since the first world Cup ,whenever the tounament was held in Europe ( I’m including England as part of Europe) the winner has been a EUROPEAN TEAM not South American ( if I looked at the stats correctly).

These 3 trends coupled with the 12 year factor could bode well for Italy or some other european team .

Posted from  Canada

Resco Brasil has won in Europe-1958. The stars,God,luck have nothing relative to Brasil. It is magia-magic from Brasil that have them with cinco-five titles. Anything is possible in futbol but Australia will not beat Brasil. And Italia does not know the road to San Jose-north to the net. Sometimes the ref helps or hinders.

Posted from  Canada

I love the way of playing that Italy plays. I love a team having iron defense & is capable of sharp attacking. I hate too much of attacking football keeping its defense wide open. The player selection of Italy is good. Nice team approach. Hope my team do well in this FIFA world cup. I love Italian football.

Posted from  Bangladesh

is response to Dino, you have to be good to be lucky, and lucky to be good. im not saying Brazil isnt a world class team, cause they are, but u gotta let the facts speak for themselves. personnally, i do not think Brazil is going to win, for a majority of reasons. they will go far, that is without a doubt, but an upset is in the works. they have to be warry of thier group like everyone else, and they should not take the Aussies and Croatia litely, cause if they do its gonna bite them in the ass. Italy have a good chance, they always have a good chance, but this year is special for some reason, the new coach, the scandal, the young talant, and the first player to score over 30 goals in the serie a in god knows how long. this WC we have the goaltending, we have the defence, we have the mids and now we even got the forwards. and trust me, these guys can find the net, and the road to San Jose

Posted from  Canada

Amigo,Fabio,the fact of the matter is that Brasil never takes any nation lightly-therefore it has cinco=5 copas. The scandal? How can that be of help? The press wants the Italian coach out. That is going to help? Brasil has scored more goals than Italy. Brasil has progressively bettered it’s defence when you look at goals in favor and against. Only the facts-you say. Geraldino misses too many chances to score. Totti is not in shape. ? Suerte-good luck-you will need a lot of it. And one more thing-Viva Brasil and Viva Honduras. Si Senor.

Posted from  Canada

Brasil are the equivalent of a big bully that the entire world, except for itself, wants to see go down — and go down hard — against the likes of an underdog nation. Forza Giappone!

They had a cake group in ‘02 and now a cake group in ‘06. Brasil are more lucky than good, but they have the cups to keep us all reasonably quiet. But that was then and this is now: this summer, despite another cake group, Brasil will be humbled. I can’t wait to see (or not see) dino and his buddies on our site come the end of June.

Posted from  United States

Dino,
with the scandal its only gonna add feul to the fire, an dthe press wants them out, not the team, not the FIGC. fact of the matter is that since Lippi has been coach there has been a substantial change in the way Italy play, this year we are blessed with forwards, my god how we have been blessed, and you know what, Gilardino does miss a few chances, granted he hasn’t perfected his craft, yet, he’s still young and if he doesnt do great this year, next WC will be his comming out party. Totti as his position is second to none, and even you can’t say thats not true. i do not agree with what he did in euro2004 but apparantly he’s matured since then with the brith of his first born and all, we’ll just wait and see. Cause my amigo, Brazil will be the one needing the luck, but come June, lets let the scoreboard talk
ciao

Posted from  Canada

Been reading all your comments with interest. One thing that really hacks me off over here in the UK is the way the British media seem to drool over Brazil every 4 years - every pass, every touch, every move - all talked about as if it’s almost orgasmic! Yeeuuuch!
And Josh - yes, unfortunately England did win in ‘66 - we have to suffer all the old B&W (now in colour, thanks to modern technology - whoopee!) replays every 4 years!
Bookies here are offering 66-1 for Toni to get the Golden Boot and Italy to win. Now, that MUST be worth a flutter!?

Posted from  United Kingdom

Well, I really do hope it’s true that the stars are aligned just right for the Azzurri this time around…Another sign one would say is falling in the same group as the Czech Republic and the USA…the other time this happened, we made it to the semifinals!! I wonder who will be “Schillaci” this time around..

Posted from  United States

Guys, guys, let me get in on the act.
Omens???? i’m not so sure. You all make valid points, but to my Brazilian counterparts i say this…Ronaldinho (it pains me to say) is a genius with a football. One bad game (the CL Final) does not make him a crap player, but he is no Baggio. Ronaldo, still (when he dons the yellow of Brazil) plays out of his skin, Kaka can be as elegant as Totti, but likes to blow as hot as he does cold and Adriano could end up as top scorer, however, at 66-1, my £10 on Luca Toni isn’t looking to bad. now, before you Barzilians start blaring about Robinho, Ceccinho or any other inho, let me say this, these are not players in the mould of any previous lucky Brazil team, nor are they any match for the current crop of Azzurri world beaters, Jeez you only have to look at thier goal keepers and can anyone name a defender apart from those pensioners. Brazil will win their group for one reason and one reason only. It is THEY who do not want to meet Italy in the 2nd round and they will need to be lucky to get to the final. the scandal which has rocked italian football appears to be subsiding, at least until after the WC at which point italians will be so delirious at another WC triumph they will have forgotten what all the fuss was about.
before i sign off, i would like to leave you with a thought.
here in England we have to listen to crap about team spirit, togetherness, 3 lions etc, etc, etc. Now if WC’s were won on these qualities alone, i wouldn’t bother watching football as Eng-er-land would have won them all, however, this year i sense a new purpose in the azzurri. they seem to have tose very same qualities as our dear old friends from blighty, with one major difference,,, italy can actually play!!!
long gone appear to be the days when the likes of Vieri decided when and where he would play. I agree Totti appears to have grown up…. no more the ultimate prima donna, now maybe with a point to prove if this is to be his last tournament. the likes of Buffon, Nesta, Cannavaro, Zambrotta, Gattuso, Gilardino, Toni, Inzaghi…. et all, look like players who want to don the Azzurro because of what it means, what it stands for. for most of these players 2002 is something which still haunts and still hurts and i have this quietly confident feeling, someone will get their backsides kicked. hopefully it will be Brazil

Posted from  United Kingdom

Well said Angelo

Posted from  Canada

I only just stumbled across this site today and as you can tell it has already been added to my favourites. I have World Cup Fever so so bad as I can’t wait for it all to kick off.

Speriamo the Azzurri win it but as always I’m not confident. I like the omens part and if people are looking at odds you can get an Italia World Cup win with Toni top scorer at 50/1 so I might fancy some of that. But I don’t wanna jinx anything.

Well everybody here is singing Brazils praises.. I just don’t see it myself. They have some class players but any team with organisation can suss them out. Roberto Carlos in defence and Dida in goal.. also that waste of space Adriano up front ?? Has anybody watched Inter play this year !!! I mean this when I say it but I WANT Brazil in the 2nd Round, it’s a World Cup for chr*sts sake so you have to beat the best.

Also if we can get the Totti of Euro 2000 to turn up it increases our chances dramatically don’t you think ?

I also wondered what peoples thoughts on Cassano are ? He doesn’t justify a call up but I think he is the closest thing we have to the next Robert Baggio.

Forza Italia.. and bring on that World Cup. I want tears of joy this time not tears of hurt.

Posted from  United Kingdom

Benvenuti, Roberto. Nice to have you join us. A few weeks back, I kicked and screamed about Cassano not being selected, and about Lippi being a buffoon (not Buffon) for snubbing the likes of Cassano, Pannucci, and being married to the idea of selecting Vieri and Materazzi, etc. Still, Lippi has assembled a nice squad and, perhaps more importantly, a solid record heading into the big dance.

Anyway yes, I agree that Cassano is an enigmatic talent who can magically turn a match on its head with a flash of brilliance. Totti is much more consistent, but Cassano, IMO, is capable of greater feats. And of course, nobody likes Cassano so he’s got a bunch of PR work to do. Once Totti, DP, and the old guard retire, Cassano will feature and shine for the Azzurri.

Posted from  United States

Hello there Josh, some good points and I’m 100% behind you. Maybe apart from the Panucci part though.. sorry mate. Don’t get me started on Materazzi, remember the Croatia game of WC 2002 and the Bulgaria game of 2004. Materazzi the clown at his finest. Surely if Materazzi is in the squad me and you will be getting our call ups soon.

Forza Italia !!!!!

Hi Guys, looks like our Brazilian friend has disappeared. I agree that Italy will have to beat the best to win the thing and i would actually be more confident of beating Brazil in the 2nd round than the final…. Remember ‘82!!!
Anyway the Cassano debate rages on. I for one was distraught when the poor little fella scored the goal which nearly saw Italy into the 2nd round of Euro 2004, only to be robbed by our scandinavian counterparts. since then however, the little fella has proved to be a massive egoist, thinking that even he could outshine the King of Roma… you know who i mean and there was only ever going to be one winner in that little contest.
i would sat this thought, Cass is a cracking player and maybe is the future of Italian attacking flair, but if he really was that good and wanted so badly by a whole plethora of clubs, then how is it he managed to get a nominal transfer fee to Real and has hardly played. not one italian club wanted him and boy did Juve need a striker??? This guy did NOT deserve a place in the squad ahead of 5 of the 6 strikers that Marcello has picked. The only one i wouldn’t have is that Iaquinta bloke and even then i probably would have opted for Luccarelli or Tovano of whom both have had cracking seasons.
nevertheless forza Italia all the way.

ciao ragazzi

Posted from  United Kingdom

we invented football, u should worship the ground we walk on. if it wasnt for us u wouldnt have nothin to talk about other than how poor u are at other sports (which we invented too)
i love believing we will win everything we enter the pure excitement although deep down i no we have got no chance.
long live peter crouch
england till i die

Posted from  United Kingdom