The Official Azzurri thread

[Zoff82]

[p_maldini_3]

Old man Panucci prepared to shoulder Italian defensive burden

by Gregoire Lemarchand 5 hours, 11 minutes ago

BADEN, Austria (AFP) - With World Cup winning veteran central defenders Fabio Cannavaro and Marco Materazzi either out injured or out of favour it has fallen to another old stager Christian Panucci to marshal the defence in Sunday's Euro 2008 quarter-final against Spain.

The 35-year-old has an even greater incentive to deliver only Italy's second European title as he was not part of the World Cup winning squad, having failed to find favour with then coach Marcello Lippi, who he had not got on with when at Inter Milan.

However, it maybe doesn't matter as much to the 56-times capped defender - who may have only scored four goals but two have been crucial - one earning them an injury-time win over Scotland which got them to the finals and the other the draw with Romania which garnered a point here.

He cheated death in 1996 on returning early from the Olympics after picking up an injury. He decided in a twist of fate to switch flights - his original TAW flight crashed into the Atlantic Ocean.


Despite his age, the former AC Milan, Real Madrid, Monaco and now AS Roma defender - who earned a recall once his former AC Milan team-mate Roberto Donadoni replaced Lippi as coach of the Azzurri - is clearly up for what will more than likely be his last chance at the big national team trophies.

"In my 18 year career, I have never had major injury problems," said Panucci.

"And then there is the incentive of playing in a Euro quarter-final and that overrides any type of tiredness.

"And it is even more true of myself because it is likely to be my last major international occasion."

It's fair to say that Panucci has not let his country down here - inadvertently blamed for the Dutch first goal in the 3-0 Group defeat when he was lying off the pitch injured but the referee ruled him as playing Ruud van Nistelrooy onside - he has teamed up with the youngest member of the squad 23-year-old Giorgio Chiellini in the centre of defence to only concede one in the last two matches.

The duo have impressed since replacing the duo of Materazzi - whose frailties and age were exposed by the Dutch - and Andrea Barzagli, who was also dropped and has since been ruled out with a left knee injury, even though quite apart from a generation in terms of age separating them they hardly knew each other.

"We talk a lot, myself and Giorgio," said Panucci.

"We don't know each other very well, notably in our movements, but that allows us to change around a lot.

"In any case, I can assure you that he (Chiellini) will be one of the best central defenders in the world. He has everything."

Panucci, who has twice won the Champions League first with AC Milan and then Real Madrid in 1994 and 1998 respectively, said that he had no worries over his fitness levels despite his age.

"In the tests we carry out every morning in training, I am one of those who recuperate the quickest.

"Perhaps it is also because where I play it means I expend less energy than the others."

Panucci, though, has no doubts that his nascent partnership with Chiellini will have enough quality to see off the imposing striking partnership of David Villa, who has four goals so far, and Fernando Torres, who has just one.

"How are we going to stop them? Like we went about stopping two other very good players, (Thierry) Henry and (Karim) Benzema," said Panucci, referring to their final Group C game which Italy won 2-0.

As for the future, dare he when he is in such good form now dream of even going as far as the 2010 World Cup?

"It would not be intelligent on my part," he said.

"At 37 years old my legs may be worn out."
===============

wow. divine providence, just wow.

[Bagg10]

[vtec]

croatian ladies are fine, they have always been among my faves

[Amedio]

[RomaShield27]

http://news.bbc.co.uk – Date: Sun 22 June Kick-off: 1945 BST Venue: Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna

Spain coach Luis Aragones is likely to revert to his first-choice XI having fielded his reserves in the 2-1 win over Greece. Aragones gave a strong indication to what his starting line-up might be when he played the XI in the first two games against the substitutes on Friday.

Italy midfielders Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo are suspended. Alberto Aquilani and Massimo Ambrosini will probably come in while Daniele De Rossi and Simone Perrotta may start.

"Alberto Aquilani and I can co-exist quite well," Ambrosini said. "But the choice is up to coach Roberto Donadoni. A lot will depend on what formation we use."

Camoranesi added: "I've started twice, which pleases me, but I'm not happy with how I've played. "I wanted to be decisive, but I haven't contributed anything."

In defence, 35-year-old Christian Panucci, a regular full-back, is likely to play alongside Giorgio Chiellini in the heart of the Italian defence. Italy have a number of key players who are just one booking away from a one-match suspension - Giorgio Chiellini, Luca Toni, Daniele De Rossi and Gianluca Zambrotta.

In the Spanish camp, despite the likelihood of playing the starting XI that faced Russia and Sweden, boss Aragones said he had not decided on his line-up. Things are basically clear but the play of some has me thinking, I'm not sure which team will play," he added.

Meanwhile, the coach played down a heated discussion he had with full-back Sergio Ramos in a practice session this week. Ramos was reported to have been pulled aside by teammate Carlos Marchena to bring an end to the argument that came a day after the coach criticised him in a news conference.

"He expressed his opinion, that's all," said Aragones, responding to a question about the spat. Although there is a full squad to pick from, Carlos Marchena, Daniel Guiza and Alvaro Arbeloa are one booking away from a suspension.

Spain and Italy have played each other on 27 previous occasions. Spain have won eight, Italy nine and there have been 10 draws. In competitive matches, Spain have been less successful winning just one out of nine. Italy have won five times and there have been three draws. Spain's sole competitive victory was in the very first match between the two, a 2-0 win at the 1920 Olympic Games.

The two teams have played each other twice at European Championships, drawing 0-0 in a group phase match in 1980 and Italy winning another group match 1-0 in 1988. Italy head coach Roberto Donadoni played in the latter of those games.

Spain have not lost to Italy in their last four encounters since a 2-1 defeat in the 1994 World Cup quarter-finals. Donadoni also played in that match.

Been knocked out of major tournaments on three occasions on 22 June, all three after a penalty shoot-out. Lost against Belgium at the 1986 World Cup, England at Euro 96 and South Korea at the 2002 World Cup. Their only other international on 22 June was a 3-2 friendly win against Italy in 1930.

Most defeats in penalty shoot-outs at World Cups and European Championships
On a streak of nine straight wins and will break their best ever international winning run with a victory against Italy. Their previous streak of nine straight wins was ended by Italy in 1927.

Victory will see them break their record for longest winning streak in competitive matches (seven).

The last two reigning world champions from Europe went on to the final of the next European Championship. Germany finished runners-up in 1992 and France won Euro 2000.

Used 22 of the 23 players in their squad at Euro 2008 with only third choice goalkeeper Andres Palop missing out.

David Villa is Euro 2008 top scorer with four goals. He is now Spain's record goal scorer at the European Championship with four goals, and also top scorer for Spain at European Championships and World Cups combined with seven goals.

Carlos Marchena, Daniel Guiza and Ã

[maro]

[maro]

This, on the other hand, is just lush:

[maro]

Look at those alert ears; the delicate snout, and those 'come-fuck-me' eyes. I'll have to ask glad if he's got a ewetube clip of her.

[RomaShield27]

Oh good lord.

[juventino_italiano]

[Amedio]

[maro]

[Amedio]

[maro]

[Zoff82]

[Amedio]

[RomaShield27]

[RomaShield27]

Don condemns 'death' speech
http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_ ... un22i.html – Sunday 22 June, 2008

Roberto Donadoni has condemned Luis Aragones’ controversial statements that Spain will “die on the pitchâ€

[Zoff82]

I'm a big fan of big knockers and a tight ass. You can tell that chick has no ass because she has no hips. Croatian girls are hot though. I was at a Croatian wedding 2 months and saw some hot poon.