The Azzurri Thread

[modena_10]

i dont understand zanetti what has he done

but perrotta has had some good showings, he has played very well in the azzurri squard and well trap likes himm trap also likes ambrosini, doesnt like gattuso, i wouldnt be surprised if trap announced that marco delvecchio will be going to euro, and wouldnt that be great

 

[modena_10]

Originally posted by santino
if were u to choose the attackers on performances in the league this season it would be
totti, gilardino, vieri and baggio

dont forget cassano who had 14 goals this year

 

[italianstyle87]

last euro he was pretty good
he brings zanetti to cover the DM hole left by gattuso he is missing due to trap's stubborn nature
man i hate the way he picks who he likes and not who deserves a spot

 

[mark77]

Keepers - Buffon, Peruzzi, Toldo

Defenders - F. Cannavaro, Favalli, Ferrari, Materazzi, Nesta, Oddo, Panucci, Zambrotta.

Midfielders - Camoranesi, Fiore, Gattuso, Perrotta, Pirlo, C. Zanetti

Strikers - Cassano, Corradi, Del Piero, Di Vaio, Totti, Vieri.


NO GILARDINO

Thanks Trap.

 

[IceBlu]

Pippo hurt by Trap snub
Tuesday 18 May, 2004

Pippo Inzaghi’s hopes of recovering in time for Euro 2004 were dashed by his absence from the squad and the Milan man isn’t hiding his bitterness.

“I am very disappointed,” said the striker who underwent ankle surgery a fortnight ago, “because we won’t have the chance to evaluate my condition with Italy’s medical staff.”

“I think that my hard work for the Azzurri in the past at least earned me the right to be seen, especially after my goals in the recent qualifiers to reach this tournament.”

Inzaghi became the first Italian since Paolo Rossi in 1982 to score an international hat-trick in the 4-0 win over Wales.

Although Giovanni Trapattoni’s list is not yet final, it doesn’t look likely that he will reconsider Inzaghi’s position before the June 2 deadline.

“I am very relaxed,” assured the Rossoneri hero. “I tried everything I could to recover quickly, working on my physiotherapy eight hours a day.”

“I did it because I had been assured by the Coach that I would be called in to the squad in order to prove my fitness ahead of June 2. I am disappointed and really wanted to be a part of this team.”

The former Juventus striker has been struggling with injuries all season, but surgery to remove scar tissue from his ankle seemed to clear up the problem.

Nonetheless, Marco Di Vaio has been brought along instead of the still recovering Inzaghi.

“I certainly wasn’t going to demand a first team shirt,” he added, “and I’d have been the first to take a step back if I wasn’t 100 per cent fit for this tournament. But I wanted to be part of this experience and hope to be there in the future.”

With new generations of strikers such as Antonio Cassano and Alberto Gilardino breaking through, it might have been the last chance for 30-year-old.

“I will be in front of the television cheering on Italy with all my heart,” he concluded. “I wish my teammates all the best and hope they can make this dream we all shared – to become Champions’ of Europe – finally come true.”


_______________________________




Oh Boo hoo ! Thats one of the few sensible things Trap did.

 

[mark77]

Di Vaio joy at Azzurri call

Tuesday 18 May, 2004

Marco Di Vaio was the surprise element in Giovanni Trapattoni’s Euro 2004 squad, but there is controversy on his inclusion.

“I am very happy to receive this call from Trapattoni,” said the Juventus striker. “I have always felt myself to be part of the group right from the opening qualifiers, so part of me expected it.”

There was a great deal of competition for that sixth forward role, freed up by Filippo Inzaghi’s injury worries, but many expected Alberto Gilardino or even Di Vaio’s Juve teammate Fabrizio Miccoli to get the nod.

“The wait to see the final squad names is always a bit of a nerve-wracking moment. Now we can get down to business.”

The former Parma man is one of five Bianconeri stars making the trip to Portugal along with Gianluigi Buffon, Gianluca Zambrotta, Mauro German Camoranesi and Alessandro Del Piero.

“My objective for this tournament is to be of use to the team,” he concluded. “If I get to play for a single minute, I’ll be more than happy.”

Di Vaio’s inclusion has caused controversy, as the top Italian scorer in Serie A this season has been left at home.

“I would have brought Gilardino along,” revealed former Italy boss Dino Zoff. “He has been the surprise package of the season and would have come in handy out there.”

Zoff was in charge of the Azzurri at Euro 2000, where they missed out on the trophy with a last-gasp equaliser and then a Golden Goal from France.

 

[Mikey]

trap has made two bad mistakes. Bringing Di Vaio over Miccoli makes NO SENSE AT ALL. Miccoli adds firepower off the bench, and Di Vaio has been in poor form since DP returned from injury earlier this season. That being said, none of these players are starters anyways, so lets just hope they win.

This would be my 23, and reasons for each player:::::

::: Keepers :::

- Buffon *
- Toldo *
- Pelizzoli - will never play, so why not choose a young goalie whos played well this season?

::: Defenders :::

- F. Cannavaro *
- Favalli - deserved to be on this team for past 6 yrs. Finally getting his due
-Ferrari - Italys best young defender
- Nesta *
- Oddo - choosing between him and Panucci is a win win
- Zambrotta - one of the worlds most underrated players
- Materazzi - Boneras not ready, Adani is benched for him for a reason and Legrottaglie has been average this season. So who else is there? really i wanna know, cause if hes all we have, than thats a worry
::: Midfielders :::

- Camoranesi - has probably lost his starting spot to Fiore, but is still a very useful player on the wing
- Fiore - one of serie A's best players this season
- Gattuso - you always need guys like him
- Perrotta - does his job well
- C.Zanetti - the more skilled outta the three defensive midfielders
- Pirlo - Italys wildcard for this tournament

:::Forwards :::

- Del Piero - you couldnt leave him out
- Totti - *** The Franchise ***
- :Bow: Baggio - if i had to pick between a 7th midfielder, 8th defender or Baggio, itd be a pretty easy decision to me. Perfect way to end his career, and its not like hes a liability or anything.

::: Strikers :::

- Cassano - not in the form he was earlier this season, although this could be the stage where he becomes a superstar
- Vieri - scores lots of goals, what else you want from him?
- Gilardino - forget all the obvious reasons, hes a better backup to Vieri than Corradi will ever be. People forget hes been the lone striker at Parma all season (when Adriano was out). Im just speechless to his exclusion, hopefully Trap reconsiders.
- Miccoli - can add a different dimension to their attack

::: Notable Exclusions :::

- Legrrotaglie - had he not joined juve, hed prob be an automatic selection
- Adani - good player, just not as good as his competition

- Ambrosini - A useful player, but how many ballwinners do you really need?

- Corradi - hes a good player dont get me wrong, i just dont feel he should be anywhere near the national team. dubbed as Vieris hier, if thats true, than thats a shame.

- Di Vaio - Theres just better options, which is a good thing

Inzaghi - the hardest player for me to exclude. one of the few Pippo supporters. You can critisize him all you want, but when it comes down to it, who stepped up when italy was having troubles in qualifying? I leave him out cause hes had an injury plagued season, and thats the only reason.

my longest post, but i could go on and on for pages really

 

[modena_10]

the squad is provisional, still two weeks till the final squad is made, who knows, maybe corradi will have a sudden accident and gilardino will make the squad

 

[northstar]

Only an injury or something like that would change the squad now.

 

[Mikey]

nobody seems to be mentioning Miccolis exclusion, even though hes been in all italian squads for past year. I think we can agree italy has just way too many talented strikers, and a team like england would be lucky to have our 8th choice striker.

 

[santino]

Originally posted by Mikey
nobody seems to be mentioning Miccolis exclusion, even though hes been in all italian squads for past year. I think we can agree italy has just way too many talented strikers, and a team like england would be lucky to have our 8th choice striker.

even Di Natale played a good enough year to take di vaio's spot....italy's forwards are getting better, there defence is starting to weaken a bit, if not yet, in a few years time....unless ferrari and bonera for example get better

 

[IceBlu]

Originally posted by Mikey
nobody seems to be mentioning Miccolis exclusion, even though hes been in all italian squads for past year. I think we can agree italy has just way too many talented strikers, and a team like england would be lucky to have our 8th choice striker.

hehehe indeed.

I mean Inzaghi would be an automatic pick for England ... no questions asked.. Miccoli as well.


Miccoli deserved to be called up intead of Di Vaio. Miccoli is explosive and is more versatile as well and can play as a right winger if needed.

I don't understand why TRap would pick Di Vaio instead.

 

[Mikey]

im still in shock about Gilardinos exlusion. ANY other team, and its a no brainer, but italian coaches always gotta be difficult like this.

 

[santino]

the answer is simple guys......Il Trap is just a dumbass,i kinda want Italy to lose Euro just so he doesn't get his contract re-newed....we need Lippi or Capello to coach the NT


p.s. Yash, are u making sigs again?

 

[IceBlu]

Originally posted by santino
the answer is simple guys......Il Trap is just a dumbass,i kinda want Italy to lose Euro just so he doesn't get his contract re-newed....we need Lippi or Capello to coach the NT


p.s. Yash, are u making sigs again?

Whether Italy win or lose, this will be Trap's last term so hopefully they win or at least do well.




and no im not making sigs really but if you want something, go request it in my thread and i'll do one if i get time.

 

[santino]

yea, it does seem Trap is leaving either way


I wonder whether or not he will play Cassano, cuz he can even be used as a RM for Camo and Fiore...either way, im hoping he gets playing time, and does well, and im guessing trap is going to test his starting line-up against tunisia, so that will probably give us a hint at the starting 11 for Euro

 

[northstar]

If Cassano does not start I think he will be the first replacement for DP or Totti. But dont be surprised if di Vaio is used on the left side before Cassano is
I have a feeling Cassano is the 6th choice striker, when you consider Trap can somehow leave Gilagol at home.

 

[santino]

yeah, im guessing cassano would be the sub to DP or Totti, and hopefully someone knocks some sense into Trap and makes him the 1st choice sub for forwards, di vaio said he would be happy if he gets one minute of game time, that's all he should get...and considering that Trap is a big fan of Totti, and Totti likes Cassano, there's an even greater chance of him playing

 

[Mikey]

hey Iceblu, if you get the chance, can you make me an Italia Euro 2004 sig? using this picture (minus Camoranesi )

 

[Mikey]

oh, and santino, you mind if i use your italian smilies?