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Actual Changes Revealed

June 12th, 2008 | By: chris | 51 Comments »

No more secrecy, at least not fully, and no more speculation by less-than-reputable media sources. Donadoni has given a clear indication to a couple of changes in the side.

“I will make three or four changes to the team that I picked to face Holland,” Donadoni revealed.

“Along with Alex, I will hand a chance to Chiellini and I will rest some of the players who have played most.

“I see Del Piero playing further behind the striker and more in the middle. Tomorrow we need the best from him and everyone else.”

Alright, fair enough. Del Piero played well and Chiellini deserves a start just as much, if not more, than anyone else in central defense right now. Of course, this also seems to indicate a change in formation somewhat, as Alex will be playing more centrally (a role I shockingly, and unfathomably, advocated, oh, 8-9 months ago – sometimes……).

So what does that mean? Something similar to a 4-3-1-2 with Toto playing a bit closer to Luca? Or perhaps one of the other changes could be a certain disgustingly gifted forward in a more central duel-creative role under the umbrella of the 4-3-2-1. Seems fruitless to guess, because Donadoni seems to eschew logic and listen solely to whatever driving force he has behind his brain.

As for the game, it appears he’s watched Romania:

“Romania are a well organised and close-knit unit, but we will have 90 minutes to score.

“We must be patient and control our opponents and try to find the energy because we will have lots of running to do.”

They’ll sit back, but Romania has that counter which can be deadly with Mutu on form. We’ll get to watch some fun anti-football as they attempt to pick the lock. As long as it’s the desired result, I’ll live.

Preview later.

Tags: Roberto Donadoni

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 51 comments.

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By gianfranco | June 12th, 2008 at 6:43 pm

Alessio and company, can you imagine how easy things would have been if Nesta came out of retirement…he was the CB at Milan better than Chiellini.

Posted from United States

By JP | June 12th, 2008 at 6:44 pm

Yeah Ricci, good point. De Rossi is talented enough he can play deep but can also push forward and score or set up goals. I’m Milanese through and through and Gattuso is one of my favorite players, but right now Italy need to win and in order to win you must score. So I’d be OK sending Gattuso to the bench because we know goal scoring is not his job. Once we get out of this god forsaken group, Gattuso can do his dirty work and close down the opposition.

By ilcapitano | June 12th, 2008 at 6:44 pm

Heard a rumor, goal.com and la repubblica are reporting its gonna be a 4-3-1-2

Buffon
Zambrotta Panucci Chiellini Grosso
De Rossi Pirlo Perrotta
Cassano
Del Piero Toni

I LOVE IT! Besides Perrotta, I would like Aquliani there instead. But THIS is a winning line up!

Posted from United States

By gianfranco | June 12th, 2008 at 6:46 pm

Alessio dont get me wrong though Chiellini had a great year.

Posted from United States

By justin | June 12th, 2008 at 6:54 pm

this guy is a complete idiot. were finished tomorrow

Posted from Canada

By Chris | June 12th, 2008 at 6:58 pm

“Buffon
Zambrotta Panucci Chiellini Grosso
De Rossi Pirlo Perrotta
Cassano
Del Piero Toni”

Like this lineup a lot. Cassano is the one guy who can fill in for Totti at the “1″.

By mido | June 12th, 2008 at 7:03 pm

Lets hope for the best!

I’m one of ADP’s biggest fans but I think he’s taking on a little bit more than he can handle. I mean every article or news report out there is about how ADP is coming to the rescue. I would have opted to start Cassano and bring ADP off the bench but he seems to one the responsibility of rescuing the Azzurri. I just hope the poor guy doesn’t let anyone down…especially himself because it looks like he’s trying to prove he is ACHILLES. If they do crash out I’m afraid ADP is going to go into a depression which he might not ever get out of. I wish him and the Azzurri the best of luck!

I swear if they haven’t scored by the 60th minute and Cassano and Aquiliani are still on the bench I’m getting on the next plane to Zurich!!!!!

By mido | June 12th, 2008 at 7:08 pm

Just had a thought haha…imagine Nesta and Totti were still on the team and Canna wasnt injured…also imagine if Cassano that moron didn’t leave Roma and ‘break up’ with Totti…I can’t imagine how a team with all of them would lose!! But these perfect things just don’t happen!!!

By mido | June 12th, 2008 at 7:13 pm

Bobo: for sure…it’ll be me, a baseball bat and donadoni’s thick stubborn head…

btw i doub’t thats the formation for tom…because apparently the don only mentioned ADP and Chiellini for sure..and said 4 or 5 changes..he also told reporters to assume certain players are going to play for sure..

By mido | June 12th, 2008 at 7:14 pm

sorry..he told reporters NOT to assume certain players are playing for sure tom…

By lamagica | June 12th, 2008 at 7:16 pm

actually, gianfranco, nesta was pretty good this year too and bonera also showed glimpses of quality there this year too. i really wonder if nesta was even contacted…maybe declined because he was on holiday? we certainly wouldnt be discussing this cb issue had he come back. nesta / chiellini would have been great and pretty much a ‘no-brainer’ (which likely means the don might have been inclined to choose them both as well)

ricci, you are bang on with stendardo. i remember looked good when he played against inter (with juve). i had forgotten about him. then again, i tend to ignore anything laziale-related.

Posted from Canada

By Neo | June 12th, 2008 at 7:16 pm

ADP is a great fighter and unlike Nesta and Totti didn’t bail out on his national team after winning the WC, claiming he’s too old or whatever…

By Mike | June 12th, 2008 at 7:28 pm

not related to formations or anything really, but i found this video funny:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=yBLxTlUEA3g

By sgm | June 12th, 2008 at 7:54 pm

the good thing is that both Cassano and ADP probably fancy themselves as the savior of the azzuri in euro 2008. Ideally, both of them run rings around defenders and Toni etc gets the freedom of the stadium to score. But I am optimistic that even if one is on song, Italy will be in good shape.

Posted from United States

By Hana | June 12th, 2008 at 7:56 pm

Mike, that video is really amusing.

By alessio | June 12th, 2008 at 8:05 pm

Gianfranco, I’ll give you that. I’m not sure if Nesta was better than Chiellini but he is a class act. He’s the only defender in Serie A I seriously wondered if Juve could beat this season. Had he been on the field in the 3-2 game, it may have been a different result.

Posted from United States

By ilcapitano | June 12th, 2008 at 8:08 pm

Link: http://www.goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=731756

I know thats goal.com…but my Aunt just flew in from Rome today on Alitalia and had some papers with her, most reporting the 4-3-1-2.

We CANT play as bad as last time with this formation/personnel.

Posted from United States

By Ben | June 12th, 2008 at 9:01 pm

I hate the night before a big game, it’s like anticipating christmas but being too old to believe in the fat man and knowing that the man that will place your parcels under the plastic tree is the one who’s liqour you drank and cut with tap water. Well at least when you’re fifteen that’s the fear, now i guess the fear is the ridicule that awaits in the work place and in the papers. Cassano will save us, he’s a petulant psycho-path but he’s a verified mutant, Peter Pan, Fantantonio, El Pibe de Bari, Il Gioiello di Bari Vecchia,Talento di Bari Vecchia, Talentino, whatever you want to call him is of another breed, he even moves different and thank god he’s got some kind of talent because he’s short on looks and personality there isn’t much else going for him. Forza Italia!

By Ben | June 12th, 2008 at 9:05 pm

Alessio,

Don’t you feel that Nesta’s positional awareness and ball skill is more refined or at least was than Chiellini’s? Don’t get me wrong, I love Chiellini but Nesta in 1994 was a wall. I think they are two different types of defenders. I love Chiellini because of his physicality and he’s the only man that can put Ibrahimovic in his back pocket and strike actual fear into the Swede.

By squiggy | June 12th, 2008 at 9:14 pm

Chiellini doesn’t anticipate as well as past central defenders like Nesta and of course Cannavaro. But he’s an absolute upgrade from Materazzi. If that’s the lineup then it’s a winning one in my opinion.

Posted from Canada

By Mike | June 12th, 2008 at 9:53 pm

i was thinking about it, and I do not know if that height thing would make sense. De Rossi is 184cm or six feet, give or take a little bit. Ambro is 182cm or about 5′10″. Those two inches would make a big difference I feel.

thats just me being bored and thinking about tomorrow.

By Ricci | June 12th, 2008 at 10:48 pm

Pretty sure they’re both around 6 ft, the height advantage thing is BS b/c he started Gattuso and benched Aquilani who is much taller. It’s just another reason to give these Milanistas to start Ambrosini. Fact is, De Rossi has scored on a few headers this season as well.

Posted from United States

By JP | June 12th, 2008 at 11:29 pm

Regardless of whose in the backline, this is Italy. We expect a good defensive performance. Clearly, losing Cannavaro hurts, but it has shown us that there may be an alarming lack of quality defenders to play for our Nazionale.

By joemaica | June 13th, 2008 at 5:31 am

False hope or national saviour?

I’m not convinced ADP will be the Azzurri’s white knight.

joemaica.wordpress.com/2008/06/13/italy-vs-romania-12-hours-to-go/

By Dennis Robert | June 13th, 2008 at 6:49 am

Ditch Toni!! Play Cassano!

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