The Official Azzurri thread

[RomaShield27]

Brady believes Italy are worried
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/footbal ... 972704.stm

Venue: Stadio San Nicola, Bari Date: Wednesday, 1 April Kick-off: 1950 BST Coverage: Live on BBC Sport Website

Liam Brady believes the Italians are expecting a tough test on Wednesday. Republic of Ireland assistant manager Liam Brady is convinced Italy's choice of venue illustrates their concern about Wednesday's World Cup qualifier. Italy top the group ahead of the game in Bari with the Republic two points back in second.

"When the Italian Federation feel it's a difficult match, they like to take their games down south," said Brady. "When they are much more confident, they play up north, so it's a good sign for us that we are playing there."

The trip to Italy will undoubtedly be the most difficult challenge of the qualification campaign for the Republic. And with away games in Bulgaria and Cyprus to follow before they welcome Italy to Croke Park in October, they are well aware just how significant a positive result could be.

"In this group, if you look at it, there has been very little in the games played already as regards teams winning by large margins," added Brady. "Nobody has really had an easy game and I think we are in for much of the same on Wednesday. I think we will give them a hell of a game. We feel as if we can go there and get something from the match, and we are in a very good position points-wise in the group."

The game will inevitably rekindle memories of the Republic's famous World Cup finals victory over the Italians at New York's Giants Stadium back in 1994, and Brady is hoping those memories might provide an added inspiration.

He said: "Well, that was a great moment, wasn't it? I don't think the Italians expected us to win that afternoon in the Giants Stadium, but I was there and what a great feeling it was to beat Italy in a World Cup match in the finals.

"We are going into this situation with a healthy amount of points on the board, and I think we will give them a hell of a game. You never know, we might come up with something like that. That would be nice."

[ricky2882]

I'm currently reading "Forza Italia" by Paddy Agnew. Italy vs Ireland is going to be sweet to watch. Not really a lot of history between these two sides, but it still feels like there is.

[Zoff82]

Who is this team Italy are playing a Wednesday?? A bunch of nobodies I tell ya.

[Carlo Romano]

[Zoff82]

[RomaShield27]

[RomaShield27]

Paddy's piece from todays

Abete offers vigorous defence of Lippi
Tuesday, March 31, 2009

PADDY AGNEW In Rome

ON THE eve of Italy’s vital World Cup clash with Ireland in Bari tomorrow, the spectre of “local heroâ€

[Zoff82]

[RomaShield27]

[RomaShield27]

Lippi tips his cap to Trap
– Last Updated: Tuesday, March 31, 2009, 16:19

Italy coach Marcello Lippi will ensure his side do not underestimate the Republic of Ireland in Bari tomorrow night and insisted today that Giovanni Trapattoni’s side are the only team capable of challenging the world champions for top spot in Group Eight. The teams are separated by two points in their quest to qualify for South Africa 2010 after leaders Italy beat Montenegro at the weekend and Ireland drew at home to Bulgaria. Lippi will not be basing his preparation on the Croke Park performance, however, instead choosing to focus on the progress made under his compatriot in the campaign thus far.

“Ireland is the only team that can battle with us for the top position,â€

[Zoff82]

[maro]

[Zoff82]

[Bagg10]

[Zoff82]

[Carlo Romano]

[RomaShield27]

Formidable Italy hold all the aces
– Wednesday, April 1, 2009

EMMET MALONE Reports from Bari

ITALY v REP OF IRELAND: JOURNALISTS ON these sorts of trips are rarely happier than when managers start bandying metaphors about in answer to questions ahead of big games and, to the delight of the assembled press, there were a few flying about at yesterday’s pre-match press conferences in the San Nicola stadium. Players, on the other hand, tend to trade in rather plainer language and it’s entirely possible that not one of the Ireland squad gazed down on the magnificent sight of the taller Alps breaking through a blanket of cloud during Monday’s flight from Dublin and even considered that nature itself might be telling them they would soon have a mountain of their own to climb.

Giovanni Trapattoni can be under no illusions about the difficulties that lie ahead this evening against the world champions, particularly after the loss of Aiden McGeady to injury yesterday. But, perhaps realising he can do little more to hone the physical or technical aspects of their game, the Republic of Ireland manager appears to have worked hard at bolstering the confidence of his players, only a couple of whom have scaled anything like the heights being aimed for tonight.

Not for the first time Trapattoni compared the clash to the meeting of David and Goliath. The Italians have not lost a qualifying game at home since the defeat by Denmark just short of a decade ago and there is no great concern locally that the sequence might be ended by an Ireland team unaccustomed to springing unpleasant surprises on decent teams. There is a hope amongst the travelling support that Ireland will benefit from the home side’s need to come out and attack but when a depleted Bulgaria side did precisely that in Dublin on Saturday night they managed to dominate the game for the first 45 minutes.

Failure to address some of the shortcomings of that performance is likely to be punished ruthlessly here and so the Irish must tighten up their defence in the full-back positions, close down central midfield – where Andrea Pirlo’s influence could prove more damaging than Stiliyan Petrov’s – far more effectively, play with more discipline on the wings and, above all, keep better possession of the ball.

It is a great deal of improvement to ask for in four days and the fear is Ireland will this evening prove incapable of preventing the Italians establishing a firm grip on the group’s top spot. A draw certainly looks to be the limit of what Ireland can hope for.

They might take some encouragement from the fact the Italians conceded two points to opposition as modest as Lithuania back in September 2006 but since then only the French have equalled the feat of coming here and getting something from a competitive game.

While seated beside Trapattoni at a lively press conference, Robbie Keane did his best yesterday to reflect the veteran Italian’s stated confidence that the visitors can do just that tonight. Asked about his side’s prospect of avoiding defeat, Keane insisted that against “supposedlyâ€

[Carlo Romano]

So much for the hopes of the Italian media and of some fans...

Lippi has just confirmed on Sky Italia his tridente of Iaquinta-Pazzini-Pepe. It was thought Giuseppe Rossi would get a start but Lippi is continuing with the tridente, albeit one that is variable to demanding situations on the pitch. More like a 4-3-2-1...

[Bagg10]

[Zoff82]