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The Azzurri Thread

M

Mikey

Guest
Alright, time to put the Serie A season behind us (especially with all the garbage going on) and put 100% on the NT.

Totti looked AWFUL today. I now have serious doubts whether he'll be match fit, or have any real confidence on the ball. I know he still has a month the get better, but he looked terrible today.

Lippi announces squad today, the following are basically locks to make squad:

GK: Buffon, Peruzzi

CB: Nesta, Cannavaro, Materazzi

FB: Zambrotta, Grosso, Oddo

CM: Pirlo, Gattuso, De Rossi

AM: Camoranesi, Totti

ST: Gilardino, Toni, Del Piero, Inzaghi

Amelia and De Sanctis for 3rd GK position. I still think Toldo should be #2 behind Buffon, but Lippi will probably call Amelia.

with Zaccardo, Bonera and Barzagli fighting for 2 D spots (prob Zaccardo and Barzagli)

Barone and Perrotta for DM/CM position (its up in the air, id take Perrotta)

Marchionni or Esposito for AM position. Id take Marchionni easily, but I could see Lippi taking both Barone and Perrotta instead of either of these 2. I hope he doesnt, but I see it being likely. Esposito callup would make no sense, even if he was a top notch player in the 04/05 season. Marchionni could be very valuable, hope Lippi takes him.

Iaquinta or Lucarelli for final striker position. Even though Lippi has always called up Iaquinta despite poor form and ignored Lucarelli in spite of his good form, I just have a feeling Lucarelli will get the call. Personally, Id take neither and bring someone like Cassano, Miccoli or Di Michele instead, but for some reason Lippi is very intent on bring 4 strikers with the same characteristics. Its clear Lippi has a clear distaste for speedy forwards, and thats a shame.

Even though England and France have made a couple very suprising callups, its just not in Lippi's characteristics to take a gamble. So, unfortunately I dont expect to wake up tommorow and see any of Panucci, Maresca, Cassano or Miccoli being on the list. At least no Vieri though.

(C)
 
B

bianconeri6

Senior Squad
Lucarelli pipped by Iaquinta
Monday 15 May, 2006
Cristiano Lucarelli’s World Cup dream is over after Udinese’s Vincenzo Iaquinta got the nod instead, insist reports in Italy.

Whispers circulating around the peninsula claim that boss Marcello Lippi will take the latter to Germany instead of the Livorno goal hero.

Lucarelli was being tipped for inclusion as a result of his prolific season and the struggles of Iaquinta during 2005-06.

However, it seems that Lippi has opted for the Bianconeri striker despite losing Monaco forward Christian Vieri to injury for Germany 2006.

Lippi will announce his 23-man party at a Press conference this evening.

--------------------------------------

nothin concrete tho
 
B

bianconeri6

Senior Squad
Italian World Cup squad named
Monday 15 May, 2006
Marcello Lippi has named the 23 players who he hopes can lead Italy to World Cup glory this summer.

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Peruzzi (Lazio), Amelia (Livorno)

Defenders: Zambrotta (Juventus), Nesta (Milan), Cannavaro (Juventus), Grosso (Palermo), Zaccardo (Palermo), Barzagli (Palermo), Materazzi (Inter), Oddo (Lazio)

Midfielders: Camoranesi (Juventus), Pirlo (Milan), Gattuso (Milan), De Rossi (Roma), Perrotta (Roma), Barone (Palermo)

Attackers: Totti (Roma), Toni (Fiorentina), Gilardino (Milan), Del Piero (Juventus), Inzaghi (Milan), Iaquinta (Udinese)

Reserves: De Sanctis (Udinese), Bonera (Parma), Marchionni (Parma), Semioli (Chievo)
 
F

ForzaNerrazurri

Senior Squad
edit: haha you beat me by like 5 seconds

anyways...well I'm pissed that Lucarelli got snubbed for Iaquinta...Poor choice imo.

Surprised that De Sanctis was called as a reserve...and Marchionni a reserve as well...

Is Barone really WC worthy?

Other then that, nothing really surprising.
 
M

modena_10

Senior Squad
no surprises and in all honesty, none of us should have expected anything less considering.

mark77 said:
so we only have one winger and it's Camo.
Click to expand...

not necessarily. we have the great option of zambrotta, grosso and oddo who all can play wide in the midfield. although i want marchionni to be there more than ever.

satisfied with the line-up. the absence of vieri really made it easier. iaquinta is a joke and is gonna have to score 5 goals to gain my respect. although i know he wont see the pitch, and if he does :-puke:

inzaghi deserves to be there. i'm not high on lucarelli, i don't think he should be there instead of iaquinta. i think neither should be there. i'm on the same page as mikey. we are missing that speedy striker ala miccoli, di michele, cassano but we already knew that this just wasn't gonna happen.

call ups that im pleased with:

-amelia: he is looking like our future, just being there will be a great experience.
-oddo: undeniable considering his "form" this season. versatile and i hope will start.
-perrotta: don't think he will see the field, as i'm sure lippi holds barone higher on the depth chart. but pleased nonetheless after a great season.

otherwise, the rest was what we expected. now on to germany.
 
Juventino

Juventino

Manager
Staff member
Moderator
I hope the scandal won't have too much influence on the players. Let's hope Lippi can turn the frustration of everything into motivation for the players. :)

FORZA AZZURRI

HUP HOLLAND HUP!

(im half dutch, half italian :p)
 
M

Mikey

Guest
I thought maybe just maybe Lippi would for once leave his stubborn ways and possibly go against his style. Of course I was wrong, and we now have a roster with 5 defensive/central midfielders and ONE naturally attacking wide midfielder.

I knew he was gonna resist the chance to take a young and exciting talent like Marchionni to be Camoranesi's replacement, and instead bring another defensive minded player in his place. Simone Barone is an above average player, but I've never felt he was anywhere near the quality to play for the NT, I just figured his callups were because of injured regulars like De Rossi or Gattuso. I like Perrotta, and he deserves this callup after a great season, but we already have 3 players with similar characteristics.

I just have doubts whether the team Lippi called has the diversity and depth to win a World Cup. We all better hope our starting 11 play at their best and avoid injury or suspension, otherwise I have major doubts. We have no natural replacements for Pirlo or Camoranesi, and if Totti cant perform can really rely on Del Piero to carry the team??

I was never really too pleased with Lippi's hiring, as he was basically the same style of coach as Trap. Both coaches are very personal with their choices, and unfortunately play favourites and will contiually ignore the form of a players around the tournament, and will instead stick with 'the players that got them there'. (edited for modena) Thats why goal shy forwards like Corradi and Iaquinta get the nods over much more deserving and inform guys like Gilardino and Lucarelli ( edited for modena ).

The biggest exclusion, and I know ive said this many times is the total lack of a pacy forward. I would be a lot more confident with our chances had Cassano or Miccoli been included, instead we get 4 target men who are USED TO playing with support guys at club level.

If I was in charge, this would be my 23, Im curious if you guys like it more than Lippi's.

Buffon, Toldo, Amelia

Cannavaro, Nesta, Materazzi*, Bonera*, Grosso, Zambrotta, Oddo, Panucci

Pirlo, Perrotta, De Rossi, Gattuso, Marchionni, Camoranesi

Totti, Del Piero, Cassano*

Toni, Gilardino, Inzaghi*

Materazzi = only because Lippi has NEVER given a chance to any other Italian CB when one of the starters goes down. Its the WC, we need someone with experience in the big time,,, even if its Materazzi

Bonera = Has been better than Barzagli this season, and is more versatile.

Cassano = Is more match fit than Totti is at the moment, and was our best player at Euro 2004. This is a no brainer in my mind

Inzaghi = hes Inzaghi. Talent wise, theres about 25 more talented Italian forwards, but he finds a way to get those goals few others can.

My 11

::::::::::::::::: Buffon ::::::::::::::::::::::
: Panucci ::: Nesta ::: Cannavaro ::: Zambrotta :::
:::::::::::::: Pirlo :::: Gattuso ::::::::::::::::
:: Camo ::::::: Totti :::::::::::::::::::::::::
::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Cassano :::::::::
::::::::::::::: Toni :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Lippi's 11

:::::::::::: Buffon :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:: Zaccardo :: Nesta :::: Canna ::::::: Zambro ::::
::::::::::::::: Pirlo :::: Gattuso ::::::::::::::::
:::: Camo ::::: Totti :::::::::::::::::::::::::
:::::::::: Gila ::::: Toni :::::::::::::::::::::

(by the way, im off from University at the moment, cant find a job. So ill be posting here a lot with long *ss messages like this, whether or not you guys like it :) )
 
J

jani

Fan Favourite
It really sucks that Camo is the only winger Italy have. I think 90% of managers in the world would have brought Marco and not 101203910239091203 defensive midfielders.

I guess Italy and defensive football will never part ways.
 
M

Mikey

Guest
Its true that Lippi does have the luxury that Zambrotta and Grosso are both just as quality in midfield as full back, but I just wanted Marchionni because hes a great talent not just to be Camoranesi's replacement.

Whatever, no more dwelling who couldve/shouldve been going to Germany, time to just make due with whats available.
 
I

italianstyle87

Starting XI
playing zambrotta on a wing would just kickass....but i can't see it

all these DMs...what a shame, maybe one will get injured and marchionni will get his chance

it's just a waiting game now
 
M

modena_10

Senior Squad
Azzurri Squad Numbers Revealed
-------------------------------------------------------------------

The Italian Football Federation have released the player squad numbers for the Azzurri’s World Cup campaign.

Francesco Totti is handed the No 10 shirt which means that Alessandro Del Piero is again given the No 7.

Centre-forward Luca Toni will wear the No 9, while the No 17 – thought to be unlucky in the peninsula – has been assigned to Palermo’s Simone Barone.

1. Gianluigi Buffon
2. Cristian Zaccardo
3. Fabio Grosso
4. Daniele De Rossi
5. Fabio Cannavaro
6. Andrea Barzagli
7. Alessandro Del Piero
8. Gennaro Gattuso
9. Luca Toni
10.Francesco Totti
11.Alberto Gilardino
12.Angelo Peruzzi
13.Alessandro Nesta
14.Marco Amelia
15.Vincenzo Iaquinta
16.Mauro Camoranesi
17.Simone Barone
18.Filippo Inzaghi
19.Gianluca Zambrotta
20.Simone Perrotta
21.Andrea Pirlo
22.Massimo Oddo
23.Marco Materazzi

--------------------------------------------------------
 
M

modena_10

Senior Squad


they look good...i mean real good. HEY EVERYONE, COME AND SEE HOW GOOD THEY LOOK.

 
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