The Italy Squad. Finally, Some Progress

after what the bari fans did lippi couldn’t pick cassano and give in to their demands. Then it would’ve been crazy. Aside from that I’m very happy with the call yps the defense is stacked again, and floccari got called up. I wish gila was there though

Posted from  Canada

Matt, really, your suggesting Cassano was at fault for Euro 04 and Euro 08? Put it into perspective man. I mean did you even watch those two disasters?
Euro 04: Cassano Appears in the final group game. Italy wins, Cassano scores, Cassano’s Heart breaks as Denmark and Sweden tie 2-2 and ELIMINATE ITALY. I don’t think a very Young Cassano had much to do with trappatoni’s decision to remove all of Italy’s strikers from 20 minutes before the end of the match with Sweden, or Totti spitting on another player and getting a 4 match ban.

Euro 08: Donadoni gets blown out by the Neatherlands – Cassano is on the bench. – Donadoni helps team unity by switching the captain after Buffon speaks out against the team and coach. Italy play Romania, Cassano on bench again. New Captain ADP shows his skill by not scoring a goal in the tournament – not to mention no Strikers score goals except for Panucci! Italy beat france a man up for the majority of the game, barely tie Romania, and go in with a defensive mentality against spain, while cassano plays in a wide left position. Cassano is then subbed off for Di Natale, who misses the penalty and is pretty useless himself.

It’s also worth mentioning, that Cassano was reported to the first day of training 1 hour earlier than any other player, and was consistantly present. At no point did any player complain about the Bari native.

Seriously guy, do you not follow or watch this stuff? Can you please look at the facts before stating your rediculous opinions.

Let’s look at Capello not getting along with Cassano. We forget ADP – a hero to many people was BENCHED by Capello – David Beckham a great to many english, was BENCHED by Capello. Indeed Capello is a notorious coach for not getting along with players. Capello has one of the worst reputations with players. I am not sure if you actually knew that – but its very rare that capello a) is liked by the team and b) lasts very long at a club.

Lets face it, Lippi does not like cassano. Lippi did not like baggio either, yet does that mean he was right? I am sure 99% of everyone agrees baggio is probably top 3 of the best players of all time.

Lippi’s decision is meritless – there has never been a more obvious case than this cassano fiasco right now. Also, Matt, you talk about team unity, HOW DOES HAVING MARCO MATERAZZI ON THE TEAM NOT FUCK UP TEAM UNITY? Look at the disiplinary track records side by side. Materazzi was a SHAME to all Italians, people cursed his selection in 2006 to the national team. But guess what, he won us the bloody trophy. All I am saying is that people need to get their heads out of their asses. Antonio Cassano will bring us the world cup – Di Natale and Pepe will NOT.

For me, the differene in those two tournaments (Euro 04′, 08′) was no Francesco Totti. In my view, even at WC 06′, Pirlo had more options because of Totti being there. Even in so much that teams had to draw away from Pirlo and focus on Totti.

Anyhow, I think Cassano is the very closest to Totti’s ‘change the game in a second’ type that can thread the play. If Pirlo and DDR are fielded together again I think it could be trouble. All I remember from Euro 04′ (or that I choose to remember) are Cassano’s tears, and for him to be excluded because of ‘behaviour’ or clash of personalties is kinda crazy.

Any word on the 11 Lippi’s leaning to? Honestly a 3-man midfield with Pirlo, De Rossi and Montolivo is so useless … I don’t understand why Lippi hasn’t understood this yet. He thinks it’s Ghana 2006 with that midfield pair and Perrotta as the 3rd. It’s not the same thing.

Donadoni helps team unity by switching the captain after Buffon speaks out against the team and coach.

What? That’s not true at all. Del Piero didn’t start against the Netherlands, but he did against Romania, and as the most capped Azzurri player, he took the captain’s armband. Had nothing to do with Donadoni “switching.”

For the record, Marco, Cassano did about as much at Euro2008 as Del Piero or Di Natale. Little. I can’t even remember a good effort he had on net, though he did put in some good balls to Toni. Blame Donadoni for hauling all 3 off too quickly and not giving anyone any time on the pitch.

Posted from  Spain

Alessio, at Euro 08 no player was given enough opportunity to showcase their talents except for Di Natale and Luca Toni (up front). Donadoni kept on switching everyone around. Not to mention his odd choice of playing Cassano on a far left position, all the guy could do was cross balls into Toni, only for him to miss opportunity after opportunity.

Regardless, this is a huge mistake by Lippi. One that will be easily comparable to Baggio being left at home for Euro ‘96 – we all know how that turned out.

With those callups, this is how the starting lineups should be:

To be honest, the best would probably be a 4-3-3, even though when we used that against Brazil it was a disaster. I just think so because we have a lack of quality midfielders, but a good amount of great strikers. I think they should play with a 4-3-3 like this:

Buffon
Zambrotta/Motta Cannavaro Chiellini Dossena
Pirlo De Rossi Foggia/Brighi
Pazzini/Quagliarella Iaquinta G. Rossi

@armando, oddly enugh,i feel that if Lippi plays the squad you have selected, he might get the 6 points…inspite of the blunders he has made in not selecting Cassano, Giovinco, Miccoli..

Posted from  Spain

How does someone with 15 caps for the national team assure the team will be better? I remember Cassano’s tears from Euro 04, and every other players too. Everyone turns on Lippi, because we seemingly know more than he does and have been coaching for 27 years…. maybe I will be eating humble pie after the next two games but if the national team needs this 1 player so very badly to be good, than we have more problems than I thought.

I think the best lineup with the callups Lippi has chosen is what i posted before, but there’s some players who shouldve been called up, and some who shouldnt have been. Gamberini, Bocchetti, Montolivo, Palombo, Pepe, Di Natale, and De Sanctis should not have been called up. Instead, i wouldve called up Santacroce and either Paolo Cannavaro or Criscito in place of the two centre-backs, or put all 3 of them in, Giovinco, Marchisio, and Cassano in place of the 3 midfielders, and Del Piero in place of Di Natale. It’s too bad though that some big stars are injured, such as Legrottaglie, Camoranesi, Gattuso, and Maggio. All i believe would deserve callups.

So then the callups should read like this:

Keepers: Buffon, Amelia, Curci
Defenders: Dossena, Grosso, Santacroce, Criscito, Chiellini, F. Cannavaro, P. Cannavaro, Criscito, Zambrotta, Motta.
Midfielders: Marchisio, Pirlo, De Rossi, Giovinco (can also be used as a striker, but is more needed as a midfielder here), Foggia, Brighi.
Strikers: G. Rossi, Quagliarella, Del Piero, Iaquinta, Cassano, and Pazzini.

And then the starting 11 would look like this, using a 4-3-1-2:

Buffon
Zambrotta/Motta F. Cannavaro Chiellini Dossena
Marchisio De Rossi Pirlo/Giovinco
Del Piero
G.Rossi Iaquinta

Lorenzo, having watched Italy at the Emirates, I’m thinking Italy have a LOT of problems. A little dose of reality:

The defence is a calamity of errors. It has been against Brazil, Montenegro, Cyprus, Greece and Austria. In midfield, Montolivio has been total rubbish for the Azzzurri. If it wasn’t for Aquilani and De Rossi we’d be royally screwed and bottom of the table. Our ‘wingers’ are nothing of the sort, completely lacking the skill and guile to beat me at speed. Corners and crosses have been routinely dreadful. Luca Toni has lead in his boots. Gilardino can’t hit a barn door for Italy. And Di Natale. His two goals against Cyprus (Cyprus!) belie just how utterly disappointing he has been.

In short. It’s a mess. Lippi’s comments today to the press prove just how arrogant he is: “I don’t have to justify my decisions”. Why not? I think he means: “I can’t justify the unjustifiable. But I’m a stubborn old dictator, so screw you”.

But then again, this is Italian management. What do we expect? These are the dinosaurs who held back the international careers of Baggio, Zola, Signori etc. I’m quite sure we’ll able to add Cassano, Giovinco and Balotelli to that list of might-have-beens.

Posted from  United Kingdom

Oh God, i forgot about Dossena. Laughed at even by Liverpool fans and relegated to the Benitez’s bench. The biggest joke of the premier league. I guess Lippi’s call up is the punch-line.

Posted from  United Kingdom

I dont understand why nobody is gripping about Cannavaro… IMO hes time with Italy should be over…

Posted from  United States

imagine the 2 cannavaro bro’s in cb for the azzurri, hahahaha. what happened to dossena and gila?

Posted from  Canada

Maybe my head is in the clouds (or some place else, *cough) but when Lippi says that he is not omitting AC because of his (AC’s) personality than I believe Lippi. Mayabe I am still too wet behind the ears to understand the politics of Italian football, and still carry a romantic view of the 06′ triumph, but nothing will change the selction now (save injury) so all we can do is plan, discuss, watch and wait until next Wednesday night. I would have liked to see Cassano, but I am not Lippi.

You know what just makes it worse? Is that not only is Cassano not being called up, but also Del Piero. So basically, probably the 2 best italian players in the world are not called, and we are given no explanation as to why. Not to mention that Camoranesi and Gattuso, two of our 3 best midfielders are injured (the 3rd being De Rossi, and dont say Pirlo cause his form this year is terrible). And why are we still sticking with a 4-3-3? Lippi has lost his mind.

Italian football is into bad times..yesterday, it was disgustingtowatchAustria school our u-21, austria were 2-0 upand were denied a valid 3rd goal whichwas perfectly onside,then we needed an owngoal and Paloschi scored in the end to equalise..Italia were clearly the second best but disgusting were the post match comments by Casiraghi who felt that it was a wonderful MATURE preformance…I was reminded of Lippi hailing his team after the qualifier against Cyprus as fantastic when the whole world knows that we were lucky to come away without a defeat

In Ireland we’re delighted to see Cassano has not been called up. And the injury list has been kind for us. That said the squad is still far better than any other in the group but Montenegro are gonna give you a tough time. This is the week Italy should begin to get some distance behind them in the group but hopefully we’ll make it difficult for you.

Sonny. I think Duff’s injury last night might give you cause for concern. With regards to Cassano, I’m angry because i wanted to watch him play this weekend, but i’m pretty sure he’ll eventually get a call up. His continued good form, the media pressure, the move to Juve and his subsequent champions league experience, will all force Lippi’s hand.

Speaking of U21’s, is it me or is there a limbo period in Italian football for players who are too old for the U21’s yet deemed too young and immature for the senior squad?

Posted from  United Kingdom

Hey this is how it can be in a few years

Consigli

Motta-Ariaudo-Chiellini-Santon

Abate-Aquilani-El Shaarawi-De Ceglie

Balotelli-Giovinco

Goalie: I think it is difficult to find a goalie that can replace buffon…but i think cosigli can manage

Defenders: So motta is still yound (22yrs) he can play at right back…ariaudo is a future star as a centre back next to the other juventus defender giorgio chiellini that by that time he will have a lot of experience…Santon without doubt will field as a left back

Mid: Torino’s Abate and Roma’s Aquilani are two great players at the moment and both merit their place at the national team…Stephan El Shaarawi is an italian player (egyptian last name) who is the captain of u/17….a great player!!! De Ceglie that in my opinion make great apperences as left midfielder although his original position is left back

Forward: Giovinco and Balotelli are withuot doubt the future couple in the italian attack.

In a few years it will be

Amelia
Motta-ariaudo-chiellini-santon
marchisio-aquilani-de ceglie
Giovinco
G. Rossi-balotelli

Although Santacroce might be better than ariaudo, and DDR will still be around then right? I mean he’s still young too.

Posted from  United States

Oh, and subs would be montolivo, curci, acquafresca, bocchetti, pepe, quags? I don’t know.

Posted from  United States

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wow. what a save by Gigi