The Official Azzurrini Thread - Italys future stars!

[Bagg10]

Olimpiadi: tegola per Casiraghi, torna a casa Rocchi

08:00 del 12 agosto

Tommaso Rocchi

Olimpiadi già finite per Tommaso Rocchi. L'attaccante della Lazio, unico fuoriquota presente in squadra e reduce dal gol segnato alla Corea del Sud, è costretto a tornare in Italia per un'infrazione al perone. Considerata l'entità dell'infortunio, gli Azzurri possono chiedere la sostituzione: al suo posto è in arrivo Andrea Russotto del Napoli.

A preoccupare il ct Casiraghi ci sono anche le condizioni di Marchisio. Il centrocampista della Juventus soffre di una distrazione al polpaccio destro e giovedì, all'indomani dell'ultima partita del girone contro il Camerun, dovrebbe essere rimpiazzato da Candreva (Udinese).

[Bagg10]

We should have called up Pazzini. He always did well for Casiraghi.

[tonykart]

Russotto Set To Replace Injured Rocchi

Napoli starlet Andrea Russotto is set to replace Tommaso Rocchi in Italy’s Olympic Squad, following the Lazio striker’s injury.

Rocchi has been struggling with injury since the start of the games in Beijing, and he missed the opening day win against Honduras.

The 30-year-old returned, and scored, in the 3-0 victory over South Korea on Sunday, but the injury is more serious than at first thought, and several hours ago it was revealed that the striker would be taking no further part in the Olympics.

Italy coach Gigi Casiraghi is permitted to call up a replacement, and it is expected that he will convene Napoli starlet Andrea Russotto.

The 20-year-old is regarded as one of Italy’s best young talents, and he has even been labelled in some circles as the “new Roberto Baggioâ€

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Calcio Debate: Which Azzurrini For The Azzurri?

The Azzurrini have been the most eye-catching team at the Olympics so far, with six points and six goals from their first two games. But which players could find themselves promoted to the Azzurri for the 2010 World Cup?

Although Italy have only encountered rather modest opposition in Beijing, you cannot help but be impressed by their 3-0 wins against Honduras and South Korea. Pierluigi Casiraghi’s men have already booked their place in the quarter finals and are looking like real Gold medal prospects.

If they avoid defeat to Cameroon in their last pool game on Wednesday, they will top Group D, and this will almost certainly see them avoid their only realistic challengers - Argentina, Brazil and Holland - until the final.

It has been stated for several months now that that a new golden generation of talent is coming through in the peninsula and, given the number of ageing players for Italy at Euro 2008, many of these youngsters may find themselves in the senior set-up sooner rather than later.

Below is the 18-man Italy squad at the Olympics. Although things quickly change in football and the future is almost impossible to predict, especially with youngsters, I have attempted to offer a rough estimation of the probability of each starlet going to the 2010 World Cup with Marcello Lippi’s Azzurri.

Goalkeepers

Emiliano Viviano, Brescia (age 22)
Italy’s number one in Beijing, but it is asking a lot to expect him to go to South Africa given the fact he still plays in Serie B. If he does it will be as third choice behind Buffon and Amelia. 2/10

Andrea Consigli, Atalanta (age 21)
Consigli will stay with the Italy Under-21s for Euro 2009, so South Africa is highly unlikely. 1/10

Defenders

Marco Motta, Udinese (age 22)
A cultured right back who certainly can make it to the top. With Oddo and Panucci surely out of the picture now, Motta can fight for a squad place in 2010. 5/10

Paolo De Ceglie, Juventus (age 21)
A left back of undoubted ability, it all depends how he progresses now that he is back at Juve. De Ceglie will face tough competition though from the likes of Zambrotta, Grosso, and new Liverfekkin'wankscum signing Dossena. 4/10

Domenico Criscito, Genoa (age 21)
Has always impressed with the Italy Under-21s, but his career stalled at Juventus last season. After a loan move to Genoa, his club career is back on track but he will probably be too inexperienced. 3/10

Andrea Coda, Udinese (age 23)
Played only half of Udinese’s games last season, and will need to improve this statistic before he can even dream about the Azzurri. 2/10

Salvatore Bocchetti, Genoa (age 21)
Has come along way in a short amount of time has the centre back, and having joined Genoa from Frosinone, we should find out next season what Bocchetti is really made of. 2/10

Lorenzo De Silvestri, Lazio (age 20)
Had a bit of nightmare against Honduras but nevertheless is still very highly rated in Italy. The attacking right back competes with Motta currently for a position in the Azzurrini line-up, and he could do the same for a place in the Azzurri squad in 2010. Christian Maggio of Napoli may also have a say. 5/10

Midfielders

Antonio Nocerino, Palermo (age 23)
A real leader and, despite lacking in the technical department, should still become a fine player in the future. Given the host of excellent young centre midfielders such as De Rossi and Aquilani, he may just miss out, but he won’t be too far away. 4/10

Luca Cigarini, Atalanta (age 22)
Described by some as the ‘new Pirlo’, Lippi is said to be looking for an alternative to the Milan man. However, 2010 may come too soon for Cigarini. 3/10

Riccardo Montolivo, Fiorentina (age 23)
After just missing out on Euro 2008, it seems highly likely that Montolivo will indeed be Pirlo’s substitute. 8/10

Claudio Marchisio, Juventus (age 22)
Remains to be seen just how much space Marchisio is offered at Juve this season. This could be key in his development. 3/10

Daniele Dessena, Sampdoria - (age 21)
Another midfielder who has been tipped to play for the senior side in the future, but like Marchisio and Cigarini, 2010 may be two or four years too soon. 2/10

Forwards

Tommaso Rocchi, Lazio (age 30)
Italy’s over-aged player in Asia, but no chance of him being handed a wild card in Africa. 1/10

Sebastian Giovinco, Juventus (age 21)
A sensational young talent with almost perfect technique - there is no doubt that Giovinco has the potential not only to go to South Africa, but to be a star there too. His size shouldn’t matter as he has a brilliant footballing brain. 8/10

Giuseppe Rossi, Villarreal (age 21)
Outstanding debut season with Villarreal, and this year he will also gain Champions League experience with the Spanish outfit. Rossi, Giovinco and Montolivo are all looking good bets for South Africa. 7/10

Robert Acquafresca, Cagliari (age 20)
Should become a regular Italy international one day, but not in 2010. Italy have an abundance of forwards ahead of him at the moment, such as Toni, Iaquinta, Gilardino, Cassano, Quagliarella, Balotelli, as well as Giovinco and Rossi. Still only 20, Acquafresca will star for the Azzurrini at Euro 2009. 3/10

Ignazio Abate, Torino (age 22)
Lippi is known to admire fast, athletic players (in the mould of Iaquinta) who can come off the bench and wear down tired opponents. If Abate returns to Milan in 2009/10 and does well, his inclusion is not totally out of the question, even if it is unlikely at this stage. 3/10

Some other Under-21s not at the Olympics:
Fabiano Santacroce (age 21) 7/10
Mario Balotelli (age 18 ) 7/10
Pablo Osvaldo (age 22) 2/10
Andrea Russotto (age 22) 3/10
Davide Bassi (age 23) 2/10
Hernan Dellafiore (age 23) 2/10
Lino Marzorati (age 22) 2/10
Tiberio Guarente (age 22) 2/10
Antonio Candreva (age 21) 2/10
Davide Lanzafame (age 21) 2/10
Fernando Forestieri (age 18 ) 2/10
Alberto Paloschi (age 18 ) 2/10

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[JuveGER]

[tonykart]

Your last sentence really sums it up: "Looked like both teams were satisfied with a draw..."

Mission Accomplished. On to the next stage of the competition.