The Official Azzurri thread 2

[Carlo Romano]

Bagg, consensus of opinion in the Italian media seems to be Borriello up front with Cassano and Pepe just behind as our attack...


Ed, an historic night for Northern Ireland? Maybe the away win for la nostra nazionale!

[RomaShield27]

I hope its not an historic night for Norn Iron, Carlo, feck them losers, hopefully the Azzurri win and don't embarrass themselves here.

Prandelli confirms trident
– Thursday 7 October, 2010

Italy boss Cesare Prandelli has confirmed he will play with an attacking trident against Northern Ireland in Belfast tomorrow evening. The 53-year-old has been experimenting with a 4-3-3 in training this week, but would like his team to be flexible in their third Euro 2012 qualifier of the campaign. “The matches against Northern Ireland and then that in Genoa on Tuesday against Serbia will be decisive from a qualifying point of view for Euro 2012,” Prandelli said.

“I expect a constant improvement, and something more with respect to our last outings, a continuity of performance for longer with respect to the other matches, also because the athletic condition of the group is good and improving. We want the three points, but we would like them to be accompanied by good football as always. Sure, this result will be more important than the others.”

When asked about his first 100 days in charge of the Azzurri, Prandelli said: “I feel ever more involved in the project. I feel well. “Northern Ireland have got important results at home, but we are thinking about being able to play better than them even at a difficult ground.”

Prandelli then revealed his starting XI, which surprised some for the inclusion of Marco Borriello at the expense of Giampaolo Pazzini. “Borriello is the right striker for tomorrow evening, also because he gives depth to our play. With Pepe and Mauri on the pitch we could vary the initial 4-3-3 in case they push a lot down the flanks, moving Cassano into a more central position.”

Finally, Prandelli gave an insight into why he picked Bologna goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano over Palermo's Salvatore Sirigu. “From a personality point of view he has something more than the others. If he keeps his promise he could have continuity,” Prandelli concluded.

Italy XI: Viviano; Cassani, Bonucci, Chiellini, Criscito; De Rossi, Pirlo, Mauri; Pepe, Borriello, Cassano

[Carlo Romano]

I'm reading that Prandelli wants "his" Azzurri to be more attacking against Serbia and will continue with the tridente.

Let's hope they can create more chances with this being a home game and don't continue to break down in the final third as happened in Belfast against the "Irons." We knew it was never going to be easy, that the Ulstermen would try to contain and frustrate us. Still, I had hoped for more. That aside, in Viviano we seem to have found a worthy deputy for Gigi Buffon.


Ed, I have to ask you...does the Dublin version of the word Iron have the same meaning as the south of England expression?

Iron (abbreviated Iron Hoof) = poof/faggot/queer etc?

[Carlo Romano]

[RomaShield27]

De Rossi's out of this game with a muscular problem:

http://www.corrieredellosport.it/calcio ... Italia%2C+

[Carlo Romano]

[Bagg10]

Well Marchisio and Mauri should switch flanks, unless Prandelli wants them to cut in and take shots.

[p_maldini_3]

i haven't seen mauri play much, so i don't know what kind of player he is, but one thing i can say with confidence is that marchisio's offensive ability seems to be massively overrated by his coaches. lippi did it at the world cup, and if prandelli tries playing him on the left against serbia it could be another potential failure in marchisio's development.

let's not forget that italy have highlighted krasic as serbia's greatest threat, that means criscito will most likely play a more disciplined game marking krasic. if criscito isn't pushing up on that left, then there will be no width from that left hand side, because marchisio will never play on the sideline. same goes for the right, unless zambrotta goes ballistic down that flank, mauri won't play wide.

a 4-4-2 with inverted wingers and potentially restricted fullbacks is not something to look forward too. and prandelli's expectations of marchisio seem to be exaggerated, i guess we can only wait to see what happens.

[Bagg10]

It could be that Prandelli is using Marchisio, who plays with Krasic, to help out Criscito on the defensive end, much like what Del Neri did against Inter.

[Messinterista]

Prandelli: 'Serbs shaking like a leaf'

Cesare Prandelli reveals Vladimir Stojkovic was “shaking like a leaf” before kick-off. “The hooligans’ actions were pre-meditated. They didn’t want the game to be played.”

Italy-Serbia was abandoned after six minutes at Marassi this evening when travelling fans repeatedly threw flares, used wire-cutters to slice open the protective nets and smashed in the Plexiglas barriers.

“We knew something was very strange when their first choice goalkeeper, Stojkovic, came into our locker room shaking like a leaf,” explained Coach Prandelli.

“He said the Serbian team bus had been attacked and there we understood their actions were pre-meditated.

“The intention of the Serbian fans was to ensure this game was not played. Was he beaten up? I don’t know.”

Stojkovic was taken to a local hospital for tests, but it is unclear what exactly happened on the bus.

Some reports state several hooligans burst through the doors as it was about to leave the hotel and threw flares, one of them striking or at least hurting Stojkovic.

The UEFA delegates and Serbian FA tried to push the game on, but Scottish referee Craig Thomson declared the safety of the players could not be guaranteed.

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/oct12cc.html

[Carlo Romano]

I was raging angry at what I saw...couldn't bring myself to post on this assurdità until now. I watched on Rai Uno for around an hour and a half, then went out for a walk to calm down. Not since the disgaceful Slovenia episode of 2003 have we seen anything like this at an international match involving Italy.

I've read that it was a premeditated act involving the same troublemakers from Belgrade on Friday, and It wouldn't surprise me. The three ringleaders, particularly the animal in the ski mask and black T-shirt with the skull and crossbones never stopped inciting the crowd behind them. I've also read a train of thought which suggests certain Serbs didn't want this match played but I haven't yet seen anything to convince me of one single given explanation as to why. The fact that the Serbian team isn't playing well doesn't sound reason enough for this! The Kosovo banner and the huge Vaffanculo banner I dismiss as ignorance of the worst kind.

Vince on the Shoutbox said he thinks the Serbian players were genuinely trying to calm down their fans, mentioning a three finger "eagle" gesture. I didn't see that. What I did see was several Serbian players gather in front of the fans/troublemakers. Some gave the "thumbs up" gesture, to the disbelief of the Rai commentary team while other players applauded. The applause was passed off as done in irony but that doesn't explain the thumbs up...

I had seen on tv the trouble outside the Luigi Ferraris beforehand and hoped it wouldn't spill over into the stadium, but as we know, it did. The riot police were understaffed as they weren't expecting the events we saw. Perhaps just as well because now Uefa have to act on Serbian guilt and Italian innocence and there can be no possible complaint of police brutality to influence their decision.

According to what I am seeing and hearing on tv, the Uefa decision will be made in 10-12 days and it is looking like a victory will be awarded to Italy. Some are suggesting 3-0. We will soon see.

The only decision made by referee Craig Thomson that I agree with was to abandon the match in the seventh minute! He is an out and out bottle merchant. The flying tackle by Rajkovic on Mauri should have been a straight red card, not yellow. The challenge on Pazzini on the edge of the 6 yard box should have resulted in a definite penalty kick to Italy.

It's as well this match was abandoned. Those hooliganistic acts were most assuredly affecting the referee and players. Under such circumstances, heads would have been lost before too long. If I was il capo of the FIGC, I'd be pushing for the return match to be played at a neutral venue with no Serbian fans allowed to attend.

[San Paolo]

The balaclava-wearing hooligan at the heart of last night's trouble in Genoa is under arrest, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Italian authorities made him the No 1 target of their arrest efforts, and reportedly apprehended the suspect at around 3am.

Despite the balaclava hiding his face, the Ultra now named as Ivan was identified on account of his distinctive tattoos.

La Gazzetta claims that images of a hand grenade, a red star and the number 28 inked into his skin were actually what gave him away.

He was seen on a bus, which was then isolated in a massive operation by Italian police.

The passengers were then taken off one-by-one, asked to remove their shirts, and show their tattoos.

[Italiamia]

[red]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog ... italy-riot

[Bagg10]

Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Krasic 'upset and bitter' in Genoa



Juventus winger Milos Krasic was “very upset and bitter” at the actions of Serbian hooligans, said his agent.
Krasic and former Fiorentina man Zdravko Kuzmanovic were on the field when the Euro 2012 tie was abandoned due to crowd trouble.

“I spoke to Krasic and Kuzmanovic. They play abroad and don’t know most of those fans too well,” explained agent Marko Naletic.

“They were upset, disappointed and bitter. They wanted to play this great game with so many champions on the pitch and were really hurt by this situation.

“I was not afraid for myself, but I did fear for the people in the stands. From the start I got the feeling this game would not have gone ahead as planned. You could feel it in the air.”

The trouble had started much earlier in the day with running battles in the streets of Genoa and the team bus attacked, resulting in an injury when goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic had a firework thrown at him.

The goalkeeper was found hiding in Italy’s dressing room before the game, as he was afraid of further attacks.

“There is a great deal of antagonism between Red Star and Partizan Belgrade. He played for both teams, so the fans are angry with him, but there really is no reason behind their behaviour.

“We should also ask how all those fireworks and weapons got into the stadium.”

http://football-italia.net/oct13r.html

[Carlo Romano]

I can verify that Ivan Bogdanov, the leader of the pack of hooligans was indeed arrested in the small hours as I saw it on tv. He is 29 years of age. What a way for a supposed mature adult to behave!

After those ridiculous scenes last night there was no way he was ever going to get to walk away like nothing had happened. Held by four policemen, he was marshalled into custody, by that point minus his ski mask. By then a ridiculous figure with his head shaved on both sides and back leaving only a little hair on top. Judging by his general appearance, he hadn't at first come quietly and someone might just have given him a piece of payback. His red star tattoo probably signifies his support of Red Star Belgrade.

I said last night I thought there were undertones of other less obvious messages and the rivalry between Partisan and Red Star could well have been one of them. (the firework attack on Serb goalkeeper Stojkovic?)

I dismiss Sepp Blatter's comments as a further example of what senility can do to the ageing human body. Platini on the other hand needed the Italian police to prompt him. I'm sure we have all read by now, because of the trouble in the city before the match, it was decided to allow the Serb fans into the stadium to prevent further injuries to innocent bystanders and damage to property, and because they could all be contained in one area. In order to do this, the usual weapon checks were "waived."

As regards the fact there is no longer passport control at the frontier. We live in a time where these checks have become a necessity. Two things are certain from this outrage. The next time either Serbia or Slovenia come to town there will be no repeat of the scale of mindlessness we saw.

Lastly, if Uefa are considering fining the FIGC for what they term insufficient police action, why is the fact that the Serb police did not forewarn the Italian authorities to expect trouble from known disruptive activists seemingly being overlooked?

[San Paolo]

From Uefa

"Following the abandonment of yesterday's UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying match between Italy and Serbia at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa after only six minutes of play, UEFA has confirmed today that it has immediately opened a full and thorough disciplinary investigation into the incidents of serious disorder witnessed at the match and the circumstances surrounding it.

Once the full dossier is completed, with the assistance of both the referee and delegate reports, the matter will be put before the independent UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body for further review and possible sanctions.

The sanctions that are available to the Control and Disciplinary Body can be found in the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations, edition 2008, Article 14, and range from a reprimand or fine, up to a stadium closure or "disqualification from competitions in progress and/or exclusion from future competitions".

The proposed date for the meeting of the Control and Disciplinary Body to hear this case is Thursday 28 October."

If Italy had rioted no doubt we would be kicked out by now.

[Giacomo]

[Giacomo]

Blatter is correct in principle, Italy needs better quality stadiums owned and managed by clubs, not by local authorities.

[Carlo Romano]

James, The Serbians would say they passed on all available info. By that reasoning I guess it's fair to assume the Genovese police would insist as they have done that no such info was received on the known trouble makers.

As for Blatter's comments... I agree Italia 90 was a long time ago and the last time Italian stadia had major facelifts, or as in some cases, even rebuilds. In those days, that system worked to Italy's advantage. We now live in different times which is why plans are already being acted upon by some Italian clubs to have their own stadium complexes, although in yours and my chosen club's case it can't as we know happen until a new owner is installed.

I really don't want to go in depth on Blatter. I've read his full Uefa statement in which he comments on stadia elsewhere and he is speaking just as a diplomat of the FIFA ilk might, to a serious bidder of a future event.

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

I knew there had to be more to Tuesday than was at first obvious. Now we get to the crux of the matter with Bogdanov admitting his issues are with his team and not Italy. I suppose it makes sense that his brute force would merely be a front to the true brains behind the event. The other two bastardi schifosi we read about his morning, who call themselves Grobari and Becchini, have also added that Italy wasn't "the mark," that it was in fact the Serbian F.A. “We are angry with Karadzic because he sacked Antic who is an idol for us.”

None of which entitled them to take their domestic grievance to another country and victimise innocent people!

Presuming Serbia isn't banned from the competition despite the calls that to happen, I again say, if I was in charge of the FIGC I would be pushing all out for a neutral venue with no Serbian fans permitted to attend when the return leg is played. It's madness to expect a "sporting contest" to take place in Belgrade after this! Let's just hope these lunatics don't try to infiltrate our other qualifiers for spite... while posing possibly even as Italian fans!