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We’ve Been on Quite a Journey

October 17th, 2009 | By: Julian | 27 Comments »

September 6th 2008. The setting: the entire peninsula is devastated after what we saw at the Euros three months earlier. Our illusions of the solidarity, the watertight defense, and the inability to fail all shattered after the thrashing against Holland. Sure, we screwed up a few times during Euro 2008 qualifying, but the last major tournament before that one set the benchmark quite high. Probably too high. So in the post-mortem of the Euros, we were looking to quickly bounce back. I think in hindsight that getting a win was the most important thing for us to put the Euros well and truly behind us, and get a win we did. Buffon was majestic as always- FootballItalia suggests that perhaps he alone of our current squad is world class, and that much alone is indubitable- and Di Natale scored us a winner deep into overtime.

This was a new feeling for the Azzurri, and one that we have been feeling more and more frequently: that is, luck. We won out of luck, and no one knew how to react. We had one the last world cup with some luck, but more through determination, team spirit, and Zidane’s craziness. At the previous Euros, not a single thing seemed to go our way, but here on the road to South Africa, luck (and Buffon) alone gifted us a winner. It seemed a mixed bag at the very least. We got the three points but a struggle to beat Cyprus is nothing to write home about.

October 14 2009. A similar scene plays out. Gilardino has the match of his life and scores 3 goals in 14 minutes to give us a win over Cyprus. We were dour for most of the match, although most of it was played by B squad members given that we already qualified. Lady luck again seemed to be on our side, and it left us all very confused. Should we be happy that we won? After all, the sign of great teams is winning when you play badly. But how long can we count on lady luck to guide us through?

If you’re interested in re-reading the details of our entire qualifying campaign, goal.com has a great writeup. I don’t want to focus on each game, but rather players and themes that occurred throughout the campaign. In general, I would like to point out that we finished very respectably, with 7 wins, 3 draws, and 0 losses- and even the love of the footy world right now (England, the apple of every newspaper’s eye) had a loss. We scored 18 goals and conceded 7. Our play varied from good to poor but it wasn’t all too convincing.

Perhaps the most noticeable thing over the last year or so is that Marcello Lippi is an obstinate man. Marchisio and Chiellini aside, he likes to stick with the aging players that won us the Cup in Germany and will not call up Cassano at all. Period. We need creativity and inspiration but it appears that that will come from someone else- maybe Totti, maybe Rossi, or maybe no one. We really don’t have a clue as to how Lippi will solve this problem, but it’s safe to say without some spark we are not going to beat the big teams next year.

Buffon is without a doubt the best player we have right now. He was the best player in 06 (aside from Canna), and he still is. Shrines should be erected in his honor the day he retires, but luckily for us, that day is far away. As long as we have Buffon guarding those two goalposts, no matter how badly we play, there is always a chance that we can still stay in the game- a much bigger chance than any other team has. An Italy without Buffon is one that will not win the World Cup. Forget Cassano, forget Pirlo, forget Amauri- if Buffon for some reason does not make it to South Africa, be it injury or a sudden act of insanity from Lippi, we can kiss the world cup goodbye. He is the most important member of our squad, and when every other player should be questioned and doubted, Gigi more often than not shouldn’t.

In wider terms, our play for much of the qualifying campaign has been disjointed at best. We all think Cassano might solve the problem, but we really don’t need to have a trequartista. Spain gets by without one and play majestic football, so it is possible if the rest of the team ups their game and plays as a true unit.

And without a doubt, these players cannot come to South Africa: Amauri, Zambrotta, and Pepe. Others are debatable but these three have no business being on the plane. Amauri for one because he’s not Italian and hasn’t even scored for Juve in nearly 9 months. We have enough problems with Italian strikers scoring and we don’t need a Brazilian choking as well. Zambrotta has lost it entirely, and with Criscito and Motta waiting in the wings (no pun intended), our fullbacks should be younger and more aggressive. Finally, Pepe has done shit all and doesn’t deserve a spot.

Gila, on the other hand, has fully earned it. Say what you want about him only scoring against lesser teams, but someone has to do that and no one else has stepped up. Ever since he went to Fiorentina he’s been a much better player, and after single-handedly saving Lippi’s ass he will be on the plane. For once, we can’t complain. Moreso than any other striker, perhaps, Gila has proven his worth. Maybe not as a starter, but he does have a role to play.

We will discuss who does deserve a spot closer to next June. For now, I think it’s good enough to say that those three don’t.

Finally, a preliminary word on South Africa 2010. For the good of Italia, whether we win or lose, Lippi needs to go with youth. If we win, it will be because our young players who can deal with the pace of the modern game put in the performance of thier lifetime. If we lose with youth, they’ll be ready for the next Euros and 2016. But if we lose with older players, we will need to transition anyway and the young ones will have no experience for the next Euros/World Cup, which would be nothing short of disastrous.

But for now, we celebrate. Celebrate that we are in the World Cup, fully qualified when at times it seemed uncertain if we even deserved it. Celebrate the fact that we have the greatest goalie in the world and top class young players who can make a difference. And most of all, celebrate the fact that we are the Azzurri, that we live and die with this team as they win and lose; celebrate that we can experience the joy, sadness, shock, amazement, and love for the game with the players next summer.

And what a summer are we going to have in store.

Tags: Amauri, Buffon, Euro 2008, Gila, Italy, Lippi, World Cup 2006, World Cup 2010

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By Marco | October 17th, 2009 at 3:57 pm

Fair assessment Alessio,
However, I don’t think the complaint has been with the overall age of the team. Although the additions of Di Natale and Legro are not selections made with youth in mind. What the complaint should be geared towards is the lack of talented Italians that are not on this team. Most notably Cassano is absent. But look further along on that list, as many saw today Gilardino was simply a miss, wouldn’t pazzini be better off taking his place? Or Foggia for the fumbling Pepe?

Looking at the list you’ve provided, to me defense looks like it needs a nice overhaul. The exclusions of Zambrotta would do little to hurt moral. While the inclusions of Marco Motta, Santacroce would be completely justified provided they both begin to see regular time on field.

WHen you look at the azzurri play they are missing three key ingredients.
1. Speed on the counter attack: I believe your counter attack is only as strong as your full backs. WHich at this time is Italy’s weakest link. The replacement of Grosso and Zambrotta will not harm the chemestry of this team and may actually introduce a long awaited change from the constant crosses we are use to seeing. Motta/Santon/Criscito are all worthy replacements and can defend better than Zambro and Grosso.

2. A player capable of handling the ball: Trequartista. Although Cassano is not a natural tq, he is best suited for the position. In fact, he and totti lining up as the links to midfield would be something great. The creative plays that would flow from that former roma duo is what we need. As we saw against lowly cyprus, our team is incapable of creating. We resorted to the signature trap move – the Long Ball. With the talent in Italy we are better than this. It’s time to start putting the players out there. Foggia is another guy who can direct the play from the right side quite nicely, and has pace too.

3. Scoring: Regardless of Gilardino scoring 3 goals, we have a goal scoring problem. This was very obvious at our productions not only in the easiest world cup qualifying group on the planet, but also in the confed cup. Amauri is NOT the solution. Pazzini is. I would can Gila, and either Di Natale, Quags, of Rossi and bring in Pazzini, Floccari and Pellissier. The former and the later are all capable of scoring goals on a regular basis.

Quick note, Mario Balottelli. If I were in Lippi’s position I would move towards bringing him. I’ve been watching him today, and he’s played very well. He seems powerful enough, skilled enough and fast enough to make a difference.

Also, it’s become obvious that giovinco needs to go somewhere else asap.

By italia2006 | October 17th, 2009 at 4:11 pm

Pazzini fairly or unfairly is now a known as product of Cassano. I am 99.9% sure lippi will not call Cassano, hence no Pazzini.

As I said earlier, things working against Pazzini are:
His big mouth (his campaign for Cassano)
His red card verus Ireland
His pk miss (He pushed aside D’Ago, to take the pk) A No No w/Lippi
Todays Amauri scored a goal for Juve.

By Giro | October 17th, 2009 at 4:13 pm

Cassano is awesome but don’t you people get tired of complaining about him not being called up? One player doesn’t make a team at this level. Who ever thinks Mario should be called up is mental, guy is red card waiting to happen. Immature and hot headed same reason Cassano is being left off the squad. Plus he has done far less then Cassano, let him prove himself alittle bit.

Btw Lippi has won almost everything a coach can win, lets have alittle bit of faith in him. I think he knows more then all of us.`

By italia2006 | October 17th, 2009 at 4:21 pm

Julian – 100% agree with you. This would be the right approach for 2010.
Calling back old farts would set back the team for another 2 years.

Finally, a preliminary word on South Africa 2010. For the good of Italia, whether we win or lose, Lippi needs to go with youth. If we win, it will be because our young players who can deal with the pace of the modern game put in the performance of thier lifetime. If we lose with youth, they’ll be ready for the next Euros and 2016. But if we lose with older players, we will need to transition anyway and the young ones will have no experience for the next Euros/World Cup, which would be nothing short of disastrous.

By italia2006 | October 17th, 2009 at 4:26 pm

Giro , I agree with you about Balotelli. Anyway, he could be a great player, but his antics are getting old. Today even Mou from sidelines told him to shut up and play.

By alessio | October 17th, 2009 at 4:31 pm

100% agreed with everything Giro said.

While the inclusions of Marco Motta, Santacroce would be completely justified provided they both begin to see regular time on field.

Both have been pretty shitty this season. Let’s see them have a good campaign before they get called up regularly. I’m not saying Zambrotta should be starting, far from it, though I think he’s a capable reserve and doesn’t need to be axed. There’s other fullbacks in Serie A that deserve to be playing.

I agree with you Marco that the problem with the Azzurri isn’t age, it’s that some of the new call ups have not matched the 2006 form of their predecessors. Which is hard to do. I agree Foggia should be up instead of Pepe…that would be a case example of it.

That said, I think we will have a good XI in place in South Africa and while I don’t forsee us retaining our title, I think we’ll have a good tournament, making it to the quarterfinals.

By Sam | October 17th, 2009 at 5:16 pm

What the hell happened to Simone Barone?

By Mike | October 17th, 2009 at 5:43 pm

This may just be me here, but I think that we shouldn’t count out Brighi in the mid. I feel he is a darkhorse for a spot. He’s a very well rounded mid for us, who has pretty much covered all the midfield spots for us at one point last year when duty called. He is a quiet guy(media wise, never mind his agent) and plus he doesn’t stop running. If he gets on the form he was in last year I see no reason why he would not be considered for a ticket to south africa this summer.

Like I said, that is just my quick opinion. I just got back from a big college XC meet so that’s why my justification is a little short. Plus I have a fridge full of beer calling my name

Posted from United States

By Vincent | October 17th, 2009 at 7:11 pm

I think this new introduction of players should have been done at the Confed Cup. But, we qualified early, didn’t lose a game, and do have some younger elements being introduced into the squad..

I don’t care how we got there, we are there. Look at Argentina, all doom and gloom, yet they are in. And they could be better in the summer.

Let’s enjoy the beloved Italia being in South Africa, and see how the season plays out. New faces could emerge, their could be injuries, etc…..

Forza Azzurri!

By Giro | October 17th, 2009 at 7:33 pm

I dont agree with Motta or Santacroce being called up, Cassani has been for more consistent then both them over the past seasons. I would also call up Criscito before both of them I also think Santon should start over Zambrotta, and intill Grosso starts to fall off I dont see a better player on the whole team. Say what you might about him when he wears a club shirt but when he put the Azzurri on he is amazing.

By mikederob | October 17th, 2009 at 7:56 pm

talking of our youngsters, our under 21 squad are having a bot of a disastrous campaign so far/ What a difference between this bunch and the last azzurini team with giovinco etc playing.
It may just be that they need a bit more time to gel, cos there’s certainly some talented players in there, but to draw 1-1 with Bosnia and to be hammered by Wales is pretty embarrassing!

Posted from Australia

By alessio | October 17th, 2009 at 10:37 pm

Casirighi just sucks, mike.

Cassani and Balzaretti both deserve callups.

By mikederob | October 18th, 2009 at 12:49 am

what about de ceglie?

Posted from Australia

By The Troll | October 18th, 2009 at 1:17 am

ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY BEACH BALL!!!!!! BEST GOAL EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwSRO_kHRxc

By Gigi | October 18th, 2009 at 4:05 am

I dont get tired of people calling for cassano because he is top class and better then the shit lippi is picking. Also pazzini shouldnt be ignored because of what he said or for getting a red card this team should be picked on form not because certain players make lippi hard.

Pepe is a pile of crap. Sometimes he works hard but he is not an italian international. Gilardino is worthy of atleast the bench after recent form its only fair. Wtf has quagliarella done exactly to be in that team? He is sucking hard. Gattusso your time is over. Zambrotta retirement home. Grosso isnt the same grosso that won the wc .. its time to let go of the past and use new players or we are going to die embarassingly. Why struggle when we dont need to. As for the “lippis won everythign we should trust him” Yeah right .. he has let it get to his head .. and coach that is picking his favorites over form players is a douche. Im with the ppl that dont like him .. greatful he got us a world cup but he is undoing all that work .. we were shocking at the confeds … looked pathetic with tonnes of luck in the qualifications and we are gonna suck hard at the world cup. And dotn fool yourselves thinking he will add more youth to the team .. its a bit late now to start mixing in new young players .. he has had numerous friendlies to try but he kept picking the same old shit.

Maybe what we need is an epic failure at the next wc for half the oldies to fuck off and lippi to go with them.

Sorry to be so pseimistic but something has to change. I dont want us to be beaten by a team liek england being managed by capello .. but they look a far better team at the moment .. its pissing me off no end.

Posted from United Kingdom

By Marco | October 18th, 2009 at 7:45 am

Agreed Gigi

About DeCeglie, he was on the up and up a successful season at Juventus and he would have been a shoe in on the national side. Not to mention he had a tremendous u21 European cup. But then Juve became the Azzurri Club squad and they went to get Mr. Grosso who has since superceded DeCeglie on the left back position.

About Juve, someone please, without a bias, honestly tell me why Trezeguet is on the bench and Amauri is consistantly starting in his place?

How come no one is pointing out the fact that this great azzurri team of lippi has bled 4 goals in two games off minnows Ireland and super minnows Cyprus? What do you think is going to happen against Brazil?

By Gigi | October 18th, 2009 at 9:56 am

Exactly^ People are too content because they believe the “we struggle through the group but do well in the cup theory” Well this time we might just suck in the cup also .. coz we look average as hell. Thank kaladze for his double own goal game.

Posted from United Kingdom

By Marco | October 18th, 2009 at 10:19 am

I hope some of you watched the Sampdoria game today. All those Cassano nay sayers who say “trust Lippi.” Cassano didn’t score, came close a number of times, distributes the ball like no one else in the game, and created the magic that was pazzini’s goal. Had there not been the absent minded ref officiating today’s match Lazio would have certainly conceded at least two penatlies and we’d be looking at a samp win at stadio olympico.

What DeRossi and senior pepe don’t understand and what some of you are demonstrating a lack of knowledge in is that Cassano plays for a very average team. Samp is not littered with the same talent that Milan, Juventus, Roma, Inter, Lazio, Palermo, or even Napoli claim. But with Cassano this team comes to life. Look how average Palombo looks for the azzurri, yet today he looked in the game, looked threatening at times, well why? Probably because of the maestro who was dishing out no look passes all over the field and opening up the play with incredible persission. As I’ve said before this is Baggio the 2009 edition.

In addition to Cassano, Pazzini must go along with him, that is a given. But there is someone else that needs to go from Samp. Castellazzi. I am shocked no one has mentioned this guy. This is a monster of a keeper. Look at his saves in the latter half of today’s game or against Inter as reference points.

People who are tired of the cassano talk maybe need to start watching some other games besides Juventus and Milan. What is going on league wide in serie A is absolutely amazing this year. There is a renaissance. It’s such a shame that our national team coach is such a pig headed fool not to grasp this fact. There’s an abundance of talent, yet we may be doomed to underperform more than 1986.

Also, for many of you who claim Lippi knows because he won so much, I just want to mention something. Lippi has won yes, but he has also been a complete failure at other points in his career, Inter is a prime example.
Let’s not forget about the dopping saga at Juventus. It is alright to mention successes, but must we ignore some failures as well? When you look at things in perspective, lippi is a hero because Grosso made a penalty while donadoni was a failure because Di Natale missed a penalty.

I also want to touch on Napoli breifly. Maggio scored today, a guy no one talks about in the same breath with the national team anymore. What happened to him!? Also, how about the new Napoli coach for lippi’s replacement in 2010? He is charged with the resurgance of Sampdoria. Or what about Conte who has brought Atalanta back from no where or Zenga at Palermo. I would consider these three coaches over any of the big names, Spalletti, Capello, Prandelli. Anyway, just a couple of thoughts, it’s amazing that some of you want to celebrate a qualification that looked below standard for the “Campione Del Mondo” without looking at it for what it actually was – We were in the easiest group on earth and looked very midiocre at best, I pray we start tinkering as this will not be a good title defence. Remember world cup 2002, not italy’s campaign but France’s for a reference point, this will be worse, as our Zizou equivilant is not being selected for the team.

By intercheats | October 18th, 2009 at 4:40 pm

@Marco best post ever – I feel that there is no lack of Italian talent in the big picture and that despite the struggles at the top in Euro comp there is a lot of depth of quality in Serie A and it remains far and away the best league to watch for anyone who really appreciates the game. What Samp is doing with an almost all-Italian squad is absolutely phenomenal and more people should be paying attention. Especially Lippi

By alex w | October 18th, 2009 at 8:07 pm

haha! zenga and conte over spalletti capello and prandelli? this guy is OFF HIS ROCKER.

Posted from United States

By Marco | October 18th, 2009 at 9:26 pm

alex, a coach that loses 7-0 to an english team isn’t much of a coach.
I rate conte very highly, he should actually be the current Juventus coach, instead Lippi had to insert his puppet. Oh well, with Juves current record Ferrara may not – correction – should not last much longer.

By alex w | October 19th, 2009 at 10:37 am

i’m sorry i didnt realize winning serie b made you a front runner for coaching the national team.

Posted from United States

By Marco | October 19th, 2009 at 10:56 am

The coaches I have selected are younger and have not had the opportunities yet to win a CL. However, they do represent teams who play beautiful soccer, while not overly relying on paying for mediocre foreign talents and will be a breath of fresh air from the stail stench of the old guard that has rocked calcio into the ground on nearly every single level.

By matty t | October 21st, 2009 at 5:24 am

Something interesting I found: These r the winners of the u-21 european championships who also won the World Cup in Germany ‘06

Amelia, Gilardino, De Rossi, Zaccardo, Barzagli in 2004

Pirlo, Gattuso, Abbiati, Perrotta in 2000

Del Piero(again), Nesta, Totti, Buffon in 1996

Del Piero, Cannavaro, Inzaghi in 1994

Looks like to me by just looking at these stats that a world cup was due to Italy eventually, after all these u-21 champss winning for their respective teams

Italy hasn’t won the uefa u-21 european championships since 2004, and all you youth lovers calling for Lippi to call these new guys like Motta, Giovinco, Balotelli, etc. well they haven’t won anything for their u-21 teams respectively.

I’m not sayin that if you have won u-21 u will def win the world cup im just sayin that history tends to repeat itself and if winning happens when ur young it more often then not happens when ur in ur prime or later on as well.

By Sofia | October 21st, 2009 at 11:56 am

buffon=god. simple

Posted from Canada