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Meaningless Game Tomorrow

October 13th, 2009 | By: Julian | 98 Comments »

Just a reminder that we have one game left in World Cup qualifying against Cyprus, a game that counts for absolutely nothing. We’re top of the group no matter what happens, and I fully expect Lippi to experiment with players and lineups. He might as well, because a loss here with all new guys in a new formation will tell us more than a draw with the usual starters. Buffon will probably be rested after the news that he needs surgery but is trying to hold off till December.

To be honest I have no idea who will play, but I’d love to see the younger guys out there, trying to earn their spots in South Africa and perhaps in the starting 11 overall.

Cyprus are already out of qualifying and since we’re already qualified, this has the markings of a snoozer written all over it. Unless Cyprus play for pride in a meaningless match, I doubt either side will be truly motivated to go all out.

And I know about all the new Totti hoopla, but unless he gets called up I’m not going to address it. I’m not sure what else there is to say except that he can’t be much worse than Toni or Quags at this point.

Tags: Buffon, Cyprus, Italy, World Cup 2010

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By Sofia | October 15th, 2009 at 10:50 pm

just want to point out that Camo had an amazing game against Cyprus. Just thought he deserved some credit.

By xyz | October 16th, 2009 at 7:35 am

Julian I honestly think that you should post an article about Lippi’s latest comments after saying that the fans are disgrace. I back up Ex-Italy Coach Dino Zoff when blasted Marcello Lippi’s rant at the fans. “One cannot afford to be so arrogant.”
He should of showed more class, fans have the right to express their opinions. Really Lippi is arrogant and stuborn man. I wish he quits after World Cup 2010. Italy needs change, the head coach and the old guard must not be part of Euro 2012 campaign. I believe Euro 2012 campaign is good timing to reshuffle the National Team, yes absolutely, I remember after World Cup 1998 in france and after the exit from france in quarterfinals, Italia reshuffled itself for Euro 2000 with new coach Dino Zoff and young talented team, I remember Italia in Euro 2000 played wonderfully, but he quit because of his famous incident when he was upset at the public criticism from Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Does Mr. S. Berlusconi critisizes Lippi NOOOOOOOOOOOOO, due to the fact both have same style of conducting business!! In my point of view, Italia will be caught in a middle of big debate regarding the squad and Lippi’s choices to the National team and the unconvincing performance of Italia for the next coming months. Good Luck Italia, I pray for you, ciao friends.

By Marco | October 16th, 2009 at 8:58 am

Interesting thought.

All the Juventus players on wednesday were rested except for Cannavaro who hasn’t played in a month. Camro was brought on half way through the second half to help – but I don’t think he did much.

In the meanwhile Gilardino played the entire match, although it seemed he did nothing for 90% of it. Gamberini also played the entire match. Both play for Fiorentina. Juventus faces Fiorentina this weekend in a very important clash. Just a thought.

By Tony | October 16th, 2009 at 10:04 am

Not sure how much of just a thought that is as its been in the news since wednesday afternoon, but seems like another conspiracy theory to me, if fiorentina thinks they will be pushing for the scudetto this year they’re dreaming or smoking too much pot.
In my opinion Camoranesi played very well when he came on, although its a natural switch for pepe (both play the right flank) camo drifts inside more and sometimes ends up on the left making mazy runs throwing opposition defences off. Plus it was his cross for gila’s first goal.
And xyz, the reason berlusconi doesn’t mouth off to lippi is because lippi will tell him where to go in no uncertain terms.

Posted from Canada

By alessio | October 16th, 2009 at 10:48 am

Not an interesting thought.

Gamberini and Gilardino are on the outs for the Azzurri. Thus, they played. Is it a mystery why Buffon didn’t play? Or Zambrotta? They are starters, and he swapped his team 11 for 11.

Posted from United States

By James | October 16th, 2009 at 10:54 am

Lippi will fail in South Africa in 2010 and then head to juventus. there i’ve said it, besides juventus is where he truly belongs. the old man has lost it, he is convinced that he is still in 2006, and no one has the right to question him. Old guard pfft, our selection is a joke, period. for starters we’ve got 6 juventus players that are starting. It’s comedy what this has been reduced to. The fact that the paul newman (rip) lookalike pulled a ‘Cassanate’ after the match on Wednesday with the RAI reporter says it all. He is above any type of criticism, questioning or second guessing for that matter; these are the world champions (Repeat 3x) blah blah blah blah, go fuck a duck lippi and then join your beloved juventus.

By Julian | October 16th, 2009 at 11:13 am

I’ll have an absolutely massive post up tonight or tomorrow on the entire qualification campaign and Lippi’s remarks… actually I’ll probably split those into 2 separate posts.

Posted from United States

By Michel-Olivier | October 16th, 2009 at 12:31 pm

italy will repeat 1986 if lippi doesn’t call cassano, pazzini, thiago motta, and foggia

Posted from United States

By alessio | October 16th, 2009 at 1:16 pm

for starters we’ve got 6 juventus players that are starting

Are any of them undeservedly starting?

Posted from United States

By jackson | October 16th, 2009 at 3:21 pm

@ By Michel-Olivier
foggia needs to be in. however what impact did cassano have @ euro 2008. please enlighten us.

Posted from United States

By Marco | October 16th, 2009 at 4:10 pm

thiago motta? Let’s try Marco Motta first

Had the teams strategy not been get the ball to Toni I am sure Cassano’s role would have been more noticed. How many crosses can you bank off a guy before he scores.

By Michel-Olivier | October 16th, 2009 at 6:50 pm

@ jackson
eu08 cassano played as a makeshift winger, his natural position is shadow forward(trequartista)

—————-buffon————-
santon–bocchetti–chiellini–grosso
camoranesi-de rossi-marchisio-foggia
——————cassano———–
——-pazzini——————–
subs:di Natale, gilardino, rossi, t.motta, d’agostino, pirlo, criscito, cannavaro, zambrotta, gamberini, marchetti, and de sanctis.

Posted from United States

By italia2006 | October 16th, 2009 at 8:14 pm

Michel-Olivier – I like Cassano as player and want him to be in the team, but if you recall Donadoni dumped 4/3/3 after the Dutch lose in Euro 2008. Cassano played mostly as Support Striker to Toni with Perrotta/Camoranesi as AM. Also, Cassano is not a trequartista, he’s a second striker (Big Difference)

By italia2006 | October 16th, 2009 at 8:17 pm

Senor Pepe has few words for y’all.

Lippi is a smart coach and has demonstrated that by winning everything in his career,” Pepe announced to Italian news agency AGI.

Pepe also waded into the debate surrounding Antonio Cassano, and believes that the Sampdoria forward has not done enough to warrant a call up.

http://goal.com/en/news/1863/world-cup-2010/2009/10/16/1565462/simone-pepe-grateful-to-marcello-lippi-for-defending-italy

By Marco | October 16th, 2009 at 11:05 pm

what has Mr. Pepe done exactly?

By italia2006 | October 17th, 2009 at 12:44 am

Missed 2 clear chances verus Cyprus.

By Marco | October 17th, 2009 at 8:17 am

This Cassano story is also showing the character of many of those on the national team. While Cassano himself has been very quiet regarding the national team – only saying he would love to play and its up to lippi – those on the national team including Lippi have actually responded to the situation with little class – notably Pepe and DeRossi this past week – that’s quite disappointing to see.

Can someone help me understand why Pazzini continues to be shafted?

By WTFlippi | October 17th, 2009 at 10:13 am

I have no idea how ppl can defend lippi and where he is currently taking this italy team. Yes italy always has unconvincing performances in the group stages but some of the games we have looked a joke against very average opposition. He is blatantly not picking players on form which upsets me and he then complains when the fans call for the likes of cassano? Why wouldnt they .. he has been on fire for 2 seasons now and has great creativity and skill .. he should walk into that lineup when you consider the likes of Iaquinta, di natale, quagliarella and pepe are in the squad upfront.

Pazzini should be getting a chance in this team. Zambrotta should be gone .. he is old he has no pace .. santacroce could replace him .. cassani from palermo is like a younger faster version of zambrotta .. even santon could play rb … when lippi picked dossena earlier in the year i knew he had lost the plot and he has done nothing since to convince me we are going to do nothing but fail in south africa. A bunch of old buddies is all lippi is taking .. they will have no legs after another long season .. we are going to embarass ourselves.

There are so many players that could improve the squad even if they didnt start .. why play pepe out wide when Foggia who is 100 times more creative and a much better crosser doesnt make the team?
Nocerino is tonnes better then palombo .. faster and can pass far better then gattusso.

Italy isnt short of talent .. it just doesnt use any of them because lippi is only interested in caressing his own ego.

Shamefull.

Posted from United Kingdom

By Marco | October 17th, 2009 at 11:54 am

WTFlippi you summed it up perfectly.

By italia2006 | October 17th, 2009 at 1:10 pm

By Marco | October 17th, 2009 at 8:17 am

Can someone help me understand why Pazzini continues to be shafted?

His big mouth (his campaign for Cassano), his red card verus Ireland, his pk miss, and now Amauri scored a goal for Juve.
Lippi only called him because Gilardino was injured.

Sampdoria Striker Giampaolo Pazzini: Myself & Cassano Hope To Play At The World Cup
http://goal.com/en/news/1863/world-cup-2010/2009/10/16/1564794/sampdoria-striker-giampaolo-pazzini-myself-cassano-hope-to

By Gigi | October 17th, 2009 at 1:22 pm

lmao @ pepe

Cassano hasnt done enough but pepe has … Oh do have a laugh.

Posted from United Kingdom

By italia2006 | October 17th, 2009 at 1:27 pm

To people who say Gilardino is the answer. I say yes, but only verus
lesser competetion. Go rewatch the game he played today verus Juve.

By Marco | October 17th, 2009 at 1:33 pm

Gilardino was horrendous today. Great help for that lousy amauri goal.

Yes amauri did score but even Pepe could have scored that, that was all Iaquinta.

By bruno | October 17th, 2009 at 8:31 pm

My comments about Cassano being individualistic and slowing down the play were based mostly on his playing for Samp, since he hasn’t played on the NT all that much. He has a tendancy to overdribble (usually resulting in losing the ball), and when he does occasionally make a decent play, everyone acts as if he is the greatest soccer genius of all time! It seems as though everyone in the media, and many of the fans (who listen to everyone in the media) are just pushing without reason, to force Lippi to bring this average player to the NT as if he is going to perform miracles.

The NT does need some changes though. The matches with Ireland and cyprus were pulled off in the end with the help of a lot of luck. It’s not easy to dismiss players that have won the world championship but Lippi really needs to let go of some of the older players and insert some fresh talent before it’s too late. Otherwise the 2010 WC is going to end quickly for Italy.

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.