The Lippi Straightjacket

I’ve felt all along that Gila / Toni would be up front with Totti in a supporting role for the tournament. I think Lippi has stated he’s just using Del Piero out left and one striker up front for this match because he doesn’t want Totti to have to do all the work. It should be interesting to watch. And we don’t know for sure that Toni won’t start.

Posted from  United States

Yeah, josh, u r over-reacting (i could actually picture u staring at your comp shouting ‘outrageous’ ). Gila probably needs to start to get the rhythm of playing with his new teammates.

Posted from  India

i dobn’t have any idea about nesta or zambrotta, but there’s an important note that DELPIERO must not be in the starting players and if Toni wasnot at the starting palyers u can name LIPPI as a foolest coach of the cup!!!!!!!!

Posted from  Islamic Republic Of Iran

And when u say “the fact that Gila MIGHT even possibly get the nod is sheer lunacy.”, c’mon man, gila is our second-choice striker! U have got to have some faith in our second-choice striker! This is the same gila who won countless games for parma. It’s not like we’re playing crouch all alone up front…

Posted from  India

will grosso start in the world cup? is he good?

Posted from  United Kingdom

Toni is a proven commodity, and I’m sure Lippi is holding his trump card until the last possible moment. He knows everyone is watching. He also gets the benefit of giving Gila a chance to break out of his long frustrating slump. If he scores a goal or two in the next two friendlies, Lippi will truly have “l’imbarazzo della scelta” with Toni, Inzaghi & Gila. This should contribute to fresh legs for the subsequent rounds.

Posted from  United States

At this rate boys I don’t know if I’m going to make it through the WC….

I suppose I’m on Lippi’s case a bit because he dropped Panucci for personal reasons; didn’t take Cassano or Liverani- the latter of whom clearly deserving to go, the former being our best raw talent; and was married to the idea of taking Christian “use your other foot you doofus” Vieri up until the last minute when it was a physical impossibility. There are many other gripes, but these are the main ones.

I don’t think Gila’s a world class player. I see him going to sleep against the stronger teams, but I don’t see the same thing happenning with Toni, Inzaghi, even Iaquinta who I think has something to prove. I’d even pick Fabrizio Miccoli over Gilardino, based simply on form. But he’s not in the squad thanks to Lippi.

Still, Lippi’s got a great record and has the team playing well together. Let’s hope for the best. Bartender….

Posted from  United States

sr- grosso’s a solid club defender but had a few slip-ups during the qualifying stage. in short, he’s unproven in the international circuit. it’s anyone’s guess as to how he’ll do, or even how much PT he’ll get given our enigmatic coach and the (unknown) extent of Zambrotta’s injury….

Posted from  United States

I’m all for starting Toni, but he’s also relatively untested on the international circuit, no? Does the Italian press touch on this at all (I’ve read a FIFA World Cup piece and a couple of other English pieces about this)? I think he’s gonna shine in the tournament. And I think Del Piero will not be starting when the real games begin.

Posted from  United States

hey u guys are really under-estimating Del Piero. You all are gonna be in for a big surprise….

forza del Capitano!!!

Posted from  India

It’s madness to replace the top scorer of the Serie A, Luca Toni, with someone who plays second fiddle to Inzaghi: Gilardino.

But let’s put that aside for a moment. My question is:

-where on earth is Daniele De Rossi?

Posted from  Switzerland

de rossi’s good, but gattuso is first choice for the azzurri. Pirlo and camo both need to start to add creativity…it’s between gattuso and de rossi for the third midfield role.

And it’s just a friendly, akbar…so can’t call it ‘madness’.

Posted from  India

…And Gilardino scores first!!!

Posted from  United States

Materazzi is a hopeless player. Frank lampard recently said in a report that the English had overtaken the italians in the art of defending. What do u guys think? I feel that they can never master the art of cantenaccio. The whole world is rooting for England to lift the cup…i say they crash out in the quarters..

Posted from  Singapore

Even Moggi (amidst all this controversey and despite his age) could have scored the goal that Gilardino scored last night. Pa-lease. Inzaghi would have scored a hat trick against the Swiss.

Posted from  United States

Gila DID score though and he was victimized by some pretty bad offsides calls, not too mention Senderos was crunching him everytime the ball was near him. He does score every other game for the national side.

As for the English being better defenders? Please, there is only two defensive players on England I would even contemplate taking, Terry and Carragher, the rest are rubbish. Plus they have no midfielder with the qualities of a Gattuso, De Rossi or Pirlo. They always think to push forward first and then defend later, it’s just their nature. But of course Lampard would say that they are better.

And yes, Materazzi is hopeless. Always has been, always will be.

Posted from  United States

For what its worth, I’m not a Gila apologist, but he has scored consistently for the Azzurri. Plus, I think a lot of players lose and gain form quickly based on confidence (especially strikers), and I think Lippi showing confidence in Gila will only help him. Also, I think Pippo’s best role is to come off the bench and poach.

Posted from  United States

for sure del piero will play on the left attacking side.

then toni would play up front

totti will be supporting these two strikers and should deliver through balls to del piero (on the left wing)

Gilardino will be a backup for toni`s injury or bad form

Who is italY`s captain?
Totti or Canavaro

England’s midfield is matched by very few teams. De Rossi Gattuso and Pirlo are certainly good, but they have yet to reach the heights of Lampard, Gerrard, Joe Cole, Beckham, and the promising potential of Wright-Phillips and Lennon.

As for their defenders, you have Zambrotta but they have Ashley Cole, You have Cannavaro but they have Terry. You have Nesta, they’ve got Carragher. And don’t forget Ferdinand, Campbell, Ledley King, Wayne Bridge and the rest.

In fact, all England lack is team chemistry and attacking options.

Posted from  Switzerland

Akbar, don’t get ahead of yourself. Lampard, Gerrard, Cole, Beckham, Lennon and Wright-Phillips haven’t won any trophies with the exception of Gerrard’s and Beckhams (from the 90’s) Champion’s League. Pirlo and De Rossi have both won a UEFA U-21 title.

Zambrotta > Cole
Cannavaro = Terry
Nesta = Carragher (who isn’t going to start since Ferdinand will)
Ferdinand, Campbell = trash
King, Bridge = not on team

Posted from  United States

Ummm, Akbar you do realise ashley Cole is rubbish defending (not too hot going forward either) and just coming back from injury, and i’m sorry but Italy have NOTHING to fear about Rio Ferdinand or Sol Campbell, both the most over-rated defenders in world football by a LONG LONG way!

Posted from  United Kingdom

I agree, Hobbes. Akbar is way out of his element. England have a fine side, their biggest strength being the combination (if they finally combine!) of Lampard and Gerrard in the center of the park. But their defense is porous to say the least. Big Sol Campbell is the skeleton of a former self that was never too impressive to begin with.

The biggest sham might be the claim that Nesta is in some way only the equal of Carragher, a man who has been bounced from his position at the World Cup by the likes of Rio Ferdinand. That claim is itself a fine argument against free speech.

Terry’s form dropped this year at Chelsea while Cannavaro’s soared at Juve. Gary Neville on the outside right of the defense is undeniably the worst player on either side, I might argue, in any position. Wayne Bridge’s performance, if that is what you want to call it, against Argentina speaks for itself.

Above all, it’s not just the players that make a defense either, England needs to learn. Retaining possession of the ball is, actually, quite a good method of defense. Boot and run, on the other hand, will always leave the defense exposed. That said, I like England, expect them to make their mark on this year’s tournament, but can’t sit quietly while someone argues that their defense is as good as the Azzuri’s.

Posted from  United Kingdom

Gila should be home watching the WC on the tube..>Cassano has much more ability and class. Obviously a political selection. Pirlo and Gattuso should also be at home given their recent invisibility.

Posted from  Canada

Does anyone think that inzaghi will get a chance at some stage in this tournament?

Posted from  United Kingdom