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Time to dig in

June 22nd, 2006 | By: Jay | 58 Comments »

Maybe you had a big sigh of relief. Or celebratory drinks. Perhaps a temporary shrine to Buffon in your bedroom? However you handled today’s victory, it’s time to acknowledge a couple things: this team needs to find its scoring touch fast and it needs to find a bit of luck to go deep in this tournament.

Of the former matter, its hard to rate the Azzurri based on the second half against a ten man Czech side– the Czechs were a goal and a man down, and forced to chase. They got tired really fast. In the first 45 minutes when the teams were both at full strength, Itally really struggled to find itself in the midfield and selfish play by guys like Totti can’t be tolerated by Lippi. I know its the way Franceso plays and he’s not going to change, but ignoring open forwards in the box is just asking for big trouble. The Inzaghi substitution in the second half clearly made an impact, but again with only ten on the Czech side its tough so say if he’ll find that kind of space in the next round.

As for the issue of luck, I’m just saying that if the Azzurri continue to struggle offensively, they’re going have to catch a break somehow, some way to stay afloat. Perhaps that awful US match burned away all the bad juju for the tournament. Let’s hope.

After watching Australia, I’ve got two things on my mind– first, that team doesn’t quit. No way, no how, they will not quit and they will not go down without a fight. Second of all, Guus Hiddink gives me nightmares. Sure, he won’t have the backing of the referees for his ‘home team’ like he did in ‘02, but he knows how to put together a strategy to beat Italy. This mat could be a lot tighter than people think.

Tags: Australia, Azzurri, Italy

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Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 58 comments.

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By giuseppe | June 23rd, 2006 at 4:40 pm

the italian team has the capability of beating most teams in the world on any given day. However, they have had a tendancy to be extremely lazy over the last three world cup campaigns. If they make the mistake of sitting on a one-nil lead for the whole match as they like to do, then it is possible that a less experienced and less talented team , like Australia, can make them pay. I, as an Australian of Italian heritage, hope that the team that puts in the best effort wins on the day.

Posted from Australia

By Angelo Abruzzese | June 23rd, 2006 at 5:00 pm

Well I just thought of this little dittie.

Of course I can’t spell for beans in Italian anymore but perhaps one of my more linguisticaly inclined friends can polish the spelling for me.

D’ella mano di chi e caduto
Togliamo la fiamma della passione
D’ella mano di che e perduto
Togliamo l’orgolio della patria
Avanti Insiemi alla gloria
Per L’amore della famiglia
Per L’amore de la Nazione
Svegliatevi citadini
L’Italia chiama

Now let us see if the Players can hold high the standard, we know when it comes to having thier backs against the wall they pull out all the stops.

Forza Italia
May they come out victorious or all perish in the trying!

Posted from United States

By nicolaricola | June 23rd, 2006 at 5:09 pm

Moka,

Delpiero is finished. He’s old, lost his quickness and has never played well at the mondiali or major competitions.

How many chances does he get???

Italy’s fate is in Totti’s hands, which is a very scary thought.

We should be able to defend and counter are way to the semi’s then with some luck who knows.

As long as we don’t have to face Germany, Argentina or Brazil, we have a shot.

And in one game, anything can happen (go for rigori)!!!

Posted from Canada

By joe | June 23rd, 2006 at 5:11 pm

I respect what you said. People over-exageratted the czech match. In 11 vs 11 play we got a goal from a defensemen on a corner, and if it were not for buffon it would be a 1-1 tie. Lippi is a complete idiot for benching Toni. He is by far the most talented Italian player, and you should keep him out there all game. Totti is playing the worst soccer of his career, yet Lippi still plays him for 90 minutes, but he benches the Serie A scoring champion. Typical of an Italian coach to bench our best player (Baggio 98). People think our offensive problems are over because we scored two goals on the czech, but they were by a defensemen and against a desperate 10 man squad. If lippi continues to bench Toni Italy will have a quick and abrupt exit at this world cup.

Posted from Canada

By joe | June 23rd, 2006 at 5:18 pm

The best part of that match was when gattuso choked Lippi. Lippi had the fear of God in his face. Funniest thing ive ever seen.
FORZA GATTUSO

Posted from Canada

By Angelo Abruzzese | June 23rd, 2006 at 5:34 pm

But what the heck was that all about? I guess Gattuso learnt how to hug from a Napolitan Dad now did he?

LOL

Posted from United States

By Josh | June 23rd, 2006 at 6:03 pm

I think Gattuso and Lippi have this thing with slapping each other in the face in a rough but friendly kind of way. Very common thing. You could tell that Lippi was working so hard not to crack a smile after Gattuso did that. Very funny indeed.

Posted from United States

By Angelo Abruzzese | June 23rd, 2006 at 6:21 pm

I had posted my predictiosn for the whole thing in one of the other threads.

Round of 16

53 - 1E Italy vs 2f Australia (0-0) Decided by PK’s to Italy

Quarter Finals

58 - W53 - Italy vs W54 - Korea (3-1) Italy wins

Semi Finals

61 - W57 - Argentina vs W58 Italy (1-2) Italy wins

Final

64 - w61 Italy vs W62 Brazil (1-0) Italy wins !!!!

Now can you imagine the pandamonium if this were to come through.

We would exercise so many ghosts if this flow come to be.

Posted from United States

By Muddia Beduddia | June 23rd, 2006 at 6:32 pm

I guess I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks Toni needs to be out there. It seems like Gila gets pushed around too easily if he is up front alone. I like Toni’s size and obviously his ability to finish.

My buddy Jeb thinks Gila would be more of a spark off the bench as he is still not sold on Inzaghi. I think Gila or Toni finishes on one or both of Inzaghi’s early chances.

Posted from United States

By devansh | June 23rd, 2006 at 8:46 pm

“I seriusly think Totti has to start playing better or be replaced.Maybe it is time to give Dp a run, wouldnt hurt much i guess.”

del piero got two good shots against usa he is needed in the squad

nicolaricola del piero is the top scorer (of the current squad lippi has chosen)

then Inzaghi is a poor driver, he has missed two clear chances for italy ..gilardino is much better(although he plays for a club i dislike)

By marco | June 24th, 2006 at 1:04 am

the only reason why DP has scoered so many goals is coz hes played like 300 games fo trhe azzuri hahaha .. i mean vieri and baggio played half the amount of games Dp has for the azzuri and they both scored mor than him i think .. shows how bad del piero is

Posted from Australia

By Adam | June 24th, 2006 at 1:52 am

Del Piero has never played a full World Cup match. Just a little ‘fun fact’ I thought I’d throw out there.

Posted from United States

By devansh | June 24th, 2006 at 9:15 am

how many goals has totti scored for italia????????

totti has only scored 8 for italy.

then del piro has got only 76 matches

By rinaldo | June 24th, 2006 at 9:42 am

i say bench both totti AND DP and go for a 4-4-2 with camo, gattsuo, pirlo and perrotta in mid, with gila-toni in front, zammie at LB and Oddo at RB.

Posted from India

By marco | June 24th, 2006 at 11:00 am

devansh .. totti is a play maker where DP is a striker .. any way i dont think we need DP when we got inzaghi .. and if totti playes well (like he did against ghana) he is very very good

Posted from Australia

By moka | June 24th, 2006 at 11:45 am

nicolaricola: Del Piero wasn’t given enough of a chance. 10 minutes against Ghana and like 25 against USA. In the 25 minutes against USA, he had 2 good chances and created 1 really good one. He had nice touches, but the problem was the rest of team; no one was there to anticipate his passes. Del Piero, at least in my opinion, should play 30 minutes against Australia. He will do something.

Devansh: Gilardino wouldn’t have had these chances to begin with, firstly. Secondly, Inzaghi and Gilardino both play for Milan.

Posted from Kuwait

By Kent | June 24th, 2006 at 8:31 pm

One man will decide this close encounter. The REF. If Australia gets another over excited Ref pulling out the cards over nothing then the diving Italians will capitalise. Otherwise this could be very close. (Gus would have a rehearsed penalty shoot out up his sleave) beware Italians.

Posted from Canada

By pao | June 25th, 2006 at 1:03 am

ciao kent, che palle un’altro di sti coglionazzi che son fissati con sta storia del diving. ma perchè ’ste cazzate non te le scrivi in un foglio e le appendi al frigorifero di casa tua? sai tipo quando scrivi: comprare due kg di zucchine, oppure portare il cane a farlo lavare. Hmmmmm probabilmente non hai capito un cazzo di quello che ho scritto vero? Va bene, l’importante è che lunedi vi facciamo il culo, così tu continui a pensare alla gente che si tuffa, però il mondiale smetti di guardartelo. Cheers.

Posted from Italy

By domenica | June 25th, 2006 at 2:54 am

pao - lascia che kent scrivi le sue stupidaggine. e tutto gelosia

Posted from Canada

By pao | June 25th, 2006 at 3:30 am

I know Domenica I was just kidding, just wanted kent to struggle a bit trying to figure out what i told him

Posted from Italy

By Colin D | June 25th, 2006 at 9:19 pm

Good luck? I think Italy used up all it’s good luck in the U.S. game. If it wasn’t good luck, then it was the refs - same thing.

Posted from United States

By pao | June 26th, 2006 at 12:37 am

Colin Colin, it’s ok you couldn’t get through the group E. Shit happens, uh? Better luck next time, never give up the faith

Posted from Italy

By PINO | June 26th, 2006 at 2:15 am

CHE VERGOGNA! UN GIOCATORE DILETTANTE! SVEGLIATEVI L’ITALIA SI MERITA UN 6 E BASTA!

Posted from United States

By Ash | June 26th, 2006 at 12:37 pm

Go Italy! I’m sick of all the upsets, and I think its time Australia gets put back to place. They are not good enough to proceed further, and barring a miracle they shouldn’t.

The next game is agaisnt Ukraine or Switzerland, not the strongest of teams.

Victory here, may be a birth in the semi finals for Italy….a fantastic prospect!!

Prediction

Italy 2 - Australia 0

Posted from New Zealand

By joe | June 26th, 2006 at 2:43 pm

Del Piero is awful, and should not be played in this game. He doesnt even deserve to be on Italy, Tavano is much better than him. We need Toni out there to start scoring or Italy will be in trouble. I would only play inzaghi as a substitute.

Posted from Canada

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