Comments on: The Azzurri Olympic Team’s Kicking Ass and Taking Names http://italy.worldcupblog.org/group-e/the-azzurri-olympic-teams-kicking-ass-and-taking-names.html Italy - World Cup 2010 - South Africa Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:43:33 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: yoman http://italy.worldcupblog.org/group-e/the-azzurri-olympic-teams-kicking-ass-and-taking-names.html/comment-page-1#comment-138353 yoman Mon, 04 Aug 2008 03:36:17 +0000 http://italy.worldcupblog.org/group-e/the-azzurri-olympic-teams-kicking-ass-and-taking-names.html#comment-138353 Probable Starting Line Up vs Hondrus ITALIA (4-3-2-1): Viviano Motta, Criscito, Bocchetti, De Ceglie Nocerino, Marchisio, Montolivo; Giovinco, Rossi Rocchi -> Although Aguafresca should start Probable Starting Line Up vs Hondrus

ITALIA (4-3-2-1):
Viviano
Motta, Criscito, Bocchetti, De Ceglie
Nocerino, Marchisio, Montolivo;
Giovinco, Rossi
Rocchi -> Although Aguafresca should start

]]> By: Nina http://italy.worldcupblog.org/group-e/the-azzurri-olympic-teams-kicking-ass-and-taking-names.html/comment-page-1#comment-138349 Nina Mon, 04 Aug 2008 01:06:28 +0000 http://italy.worldcupblog.org/group-e/the-azzurri-olympic-teams-kicking-ass-and-taking-names.html#comment-138349 Bobo,you are absolutely right about Conti, and even now, you hardly hear anyone praising his talent, Rossi bless his heart did score all those goals, but he got nothing on Bruno. Bobo,you are absolutely right about Conti, and even now, you hardly hear anyone praising his talent, Rossi bless his heart did score all those goals, but he got nothing on Bruno.

]]> By: Bobo http://italy.worldcupblog.org/group-e/the-azzurri-olympic-teams-kicking-ass-and-taking-names.html/comment-page-1#comment-138344 Bobo Sun, 03 Aug 2008 19:46:34 +0000 http://italy.worldcupblog.org/group-e/the-azzurri-olympic-teams-kicking-ass-and-taking-names.html#comment-138344 Ahh, my apologies. Totally forgot about Santacroce, but he goes straight to the top of my list. But I've seen Alessandro Tuia play for Lazio's primavera, and I think that he is a bigger talent and may come to surpass Santacroce in time if his development goes as planned (has already sustained a major injury, which isn't good... "new Nesta" indeed!) P.S. Regarding Conti, I think that he's underrated in part because Paolo Rossi woke up against Brazil in 1982 and never went back to sleep. However, on quality of play and consistency, Conti was the best Italian player (you could make a case for best player period) at that World Cup. Ahh, my apologies. Totally forgot about Santacroce, but he goes straight to the top of my list. But I’ve seen Alessandro Tuia play for Lazio’s primavera, and I think that he is a bigger talent and may come to surpass Santacroce in time if his development goes as planned (has already sustained a major injury, which isn’t good… “new Nesta” indeed!)

P.S. Regarding Conti, I think that he’s underrated in part because Paolo Rossi woke up against Brazil in 1982 and never went back to sleep. However, on quality of play and consistency, Conti was the best Italian player (you could make a case for best player period) at that World Cup.

]]> By: il divin codino http://italy.worldcupblog.org/group-e/the-azzurri-olympic-teams-kicking-ass-and-taking-names.html/comment-page-1#comment-138337 il divin codino Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:12:41 +0000 http://italy.worldcupblog.org/group-e/the-azzurri-olympic-teams-kicking-ass-and-taking-names.html#comment-138337 Bobo you´re forgeting the best young defender Italy has, Santacroce whom is widely regarded as the "new nesta". Anyway, nowadays Italy produce much more strikers and playmakers. Lamagica your point is perfect about the wingers in Portugal and the Fantasistas and strikers in Italy. Bobo you´re forgeting the best young defender Italy has, Santacroce whom is widely regarded as the “new nesta”. Anyway, nowadays Italy produce much more strikers and playmakers. Lamagica your point is perfect about the wingers in Portugal and the Fantasistas and strikers in Italy.

]]> By: Nina http://italy.worldcupblog.org/group-e/the-azzurri-olympic-teams-kicking-ass-and-taking-names.html/comment-page-1#comment-138326 Nina Sun, 03 Aug 2008 13:19:00 +0000 http://italy.worldcupblog.org/group-e/the-azzurri-olympic-teams-kicking-ass-and-taking-names.html#comment-138326 Bruno was one of my all time favorite as well. Bruno was one of my all time favorite as well.

]]> By: yoman http://italy.worldcupblog.org/group-e/the-azzurri-olympic-teams-kicking-ass-and-taking-names.html/comment-page-1#comment-138322 yoman Sun, 03 Aug 2008 06:15:43 +0000 http://italy.worldcupblog.org/group-e/the-azzurri-olympic-teams-kicking-ass-and-taking-names.html#comment-138322 Ist Half : Giovinco 1-0 Criscito 2-0 2nd Half Acquafresca 3-0 Rossi (p.k Miss) Criscito 4-0 La formazione dell'Italia: ITALIA (4-3-2-1): Viviano (1' st Consigli); Motta, Criscito, Bocchetti, De Ceglie (1' st Coda); Nocerino (1' st Dessena), Marchisio (1' st Cigarini), Montolivo; G. Rossi, Giovinco (1' st Abate); Rocchi (1' st Acquafresca). http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Olimpiadi/Primo_Piano/2008/08/02/amichevoleunder.shtml Ist Half :

Giovinco 1-0
Criscito 2-0

2nd Half
Acquafresca 3-0
Rossi (p.k Miss)
Criscito 4-0

La formazione dell’Italia:

ITALIA (4-3-2-1):
Viviano (1′ st Consigli);
Motta, Criscito, Bocchetti, De Ceglie (1′ st Coda);
Nocerino (1′ st Dessena), Marchisio (1′ st Cigarini), Montolivo;
G. Rossi, Giovinco (1′ st Abate);
Rocchi (1′ st Acquafresca).

http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Olimpiadi/Primo_Piano/2008/08/02/amichevoleunder.shtml

]]> By: lamagica http://italy.worldcupblog.org/group-e/the-azzurri-olympic-teams-kicking-ass-and-taking-names.html/comment-page-1#comment-138321 lamagica Sun, 03 Aug 2008 04:58:38 +0000 http://italy.worldcupblog.org/group-e/the-azzurri-olympic-teams-kicking-ass-and-taking-names.html#comment-138321 m-o, i think i listed many 'natural' wingers in there, both senior and up and coming. the fact that they may play narrow or are converted to wing backs has less to do with them not being 'natural' rather than highly adaptable to playing narrower due to team tactics. a large part of youth development in italy has involved the development of a player's versatility for a variety of team tactics. that is why, say, a guy like grosso was once a striker, then a wide midfielder and ultimately converted to a wing back. zambrotta same thing - originally a 'natural' winger but converted to a full back at juventus. regardless, the guys you name, who are unquestionably proficient at that position, are one per nation and are the cream of the crop, so to speak. a team like portugal, with the likes of ronaldo, quaresma and nani, (and figo a few years back) have tailored their game to utilise their wingers and almost exclusively rely on those guys for their offence yet have nothing as far as striking options go and little outside of deco as far as central playmakers. also, much of italy's strength in the past has been to counter up through the middle and have as a result have allowed more central players in the midfield, trequartista line or striking position to shine. italy are not notorious for spreading the ball wide moving forward. having said that, the game in europe has changed over the past decade and italy is starting to produce some real talent along the wings at the youth level - abate, palladino, foggia, russotto and lanzafame as probably the best of the crop. bobo, bang on with both donadoni and bruno conti. bruno was my childhood hero and i still wear his number 16 when i play. m-o, i think i listed many ‘natural’ wingers in there, both senior and up and coming. the fact that they may play narrow or are converted to wing backs has less to do with them not being ‘natural’ rather than highly adaptable to playing narrower due to team tactics. a large part of youth development in italy has involved the development of a player’s versatility for a variety of team tactics. that is why, say, a guy like grosso was once a striker, then a wide midfielder and ultimately converted to a wing back. zambrotta same thing – originally a ‘natural’ winger but converted to a full back at juventus.

regardless, the guys you name, who are unquestionably proficient at that position, are one per nation and are the cream of the crop, so to speak.

a team like portugal, with the likes of ronaldo, quaresma and nani, (and figo a few years back) have tailored their game to utilise their wingers and almost exclusively rely on those guys for their offence yet have nothing as far as striking options go and little outside of deco as far as central playmakers. also, much of italy’s strength in the past has been to counter up through the middle and have as a result have allowed more central players in the midfield, trequartista line or striking position to shine. italy are not notorious for spreading the ball wide moving forward. having said that, the game in europe has changed over the past decade and italy is starting to produce some real talent along the wings at the youth level – abate, palladino, foggia, russotto and lanzafame as probably the best of the crop.

bobo, bang on with both donadoni and bruno conti. bruno was my childhood hero and i still wear his number 16 when i play.

]]> By: Bobo http://italy.worldcupblog.org/group-e/the-azzurri-olympic-teams-kicking-ass-and-taking-names.html/comment-page-1#comment-138320 Bobo Sun, 03 Aug 2008 04:07:37 +0000 http://italy.worldcupblog.org/group-e/the-azzurri-olympic-teams-kicking-ass-and-taking-names.html#comment-138320 BTW, just out of curiosity... is Tuia a common Italian surname? Is it an Italian surname at all? BTW, just out of curiosity… is Tuia a common Italian surname? Is it an Italian surname at all?

]]> By: mike de robbio http://italy.worldcupblog.org/group-e/the-azzurri-olympic-teams-kicking-ass-and-taking-names.html/comment-page-1#comment-138319 mike de robbio Sun, 03 Aug 2008 02:58:30 +0000 http://italy.worldcupblog.org/group-e/the-azzurri-olympic-teams-kicking-ass-and-taking-names.html#comment-138319 FORZA ITALIA. Only a few days to go and to those of you whose local tv isn't covering the Italian matches, you can watch the first italy match against Honduras online here: http://www.justin.tv/myking i'll be expecting to see you guys there in the chat room, where we can cheer on the team live!!! FORZA ITALIA. Only a few days to go and to those of you whose local tv isn’t covering the Italian matches, you can watch the first italy match against Honduras online here:

http://www.justin.tv/myking

i’ll be expecting to see you guys there in the chat room, where we can cheer on the team live!!!

]]> By: Bobo http://italy.worldcupblog.org/group-e/the-azzurri-olympic-teams-kicking-ass-and-taking-names.html/comment-page-1#comment-138318 Bobo Sun, 03 Aug 2008 02:15:58 +0000 http://italy.worldcupblog.org/group-e/the-azzurri-olympic-teams-kicking-ass-and-taking-names.html#comment-138318 However, I'm willing to admit that wingers have traditionally been hard to come by in Italy, even though we have some top quality prospects right now. As far as central defense goes, Italy's depth there is pathetically, comically weak. Sure, some of the younger players are solid defenders, but where are the world class prospects? Of the younger set, I see only Chiellini, De Silvestri, Albertazzi, and Alessandro Tuia of Lazio as having that potential (the jury's still out on Criscito and Marco Andreolli). I would give anything for Franco Baresi to be reborn in this generation. God knows we could use him. However, I’m willing to admit that wingers have traditionally been hard to come by in Italy, even though we have some top quality prospects right now. As far as central defense goes, Italy’s depth there is pathetically, comically weak. Sure, some of the younger players are solid defenders, but where are the world class prospects? Of the younger set, I see only Chiellini, De Silvestri, Albertazzi, and Alessandro Tuia of Lazio as having that potential (the jury’s still out on Criscito and Marco Andreolli). I would give anything for Franco Baresi to be reborn in this generation. God knows we could use him.

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