The Official Azzurri thread 2

[RomaShield27]

Ciao Raul Monte, welcome to the forums. Are you a member of Bogsoccer forums? How'd you find your way here?

[Bagg10]

Monday 28 March, 2011
Italy XI named for Ukraine friendly



Italy have made seven changes ahead of Tuesday's friendly against Ukraine in Kiev, but the 4-3-1-2 formation remains.

Bologna goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano replaces Gigi Buffon between the sticks.

Genoa's Domenico Criscito steps in for Federico Balzaretti at full-back while Sampdoria's Daniele Gastaldello partners Giorgio Chiellini in the centre of defence.

Palermo's Antonio Nocerino gets a start in midfield alongside Juventus' Claudio Marchisio, while Riccardo Montolivo keeps his place.

Alberto Aquilani has been moved further forward and will play in the hole behind a new strike partnership comprised of Villarreal's Giuseppe Rossi and Fiorentina's Alberto Gilardino.

Italy have a good record against Ukraine. They have won five and drawn one of their six meetings.

Probable Italy XI v Ukraine: Viviano; Maggio, Gastaldello, Chiellini, Criscito; Marchisio, Nocerino, Montolivo; Aquilani; Rossi, Gilardino

http://www.football-italia.net/mar28j.html

[Bagg10]

Monday 28 March, 2011
Gilardino to captain Italy



Alberto Gilardino is delighted to get the chance to captain Italy when they face Ukraine in Kiev on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old will lead the line alongside Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi.

“Wearing the captain's armband tomorrow is a great present that the national team has given me,” Gilardino smiled.

“It's a great honour when one thinks about the many great Italy captains, from Fabio Cannavaro to Gigi Buffon.”

Asked about the time he has recently spent on the bench for Italy, he said: “There isn't any rivalry here, if anything there is a lot of competition and I believe that this is a good thing for me, for my teammates and for Italy.

“This year, at the beginning of the season, I had injury problems but now I am fine and I have a lot of desire to finish the year well.

“Among other things Cesare Prandelli knows me well, so he knows what I can give. If he needs me, I'll be there.”

http://www.football-italia.net/mar28l.html

[RomaShield27]

– Published: Tuesday 29 March 2011, 22.30CET – by Boris Popov

Italy scored twice on the counterattack to secure a friendly victory against UEFA EURO 2012 co-hosts Ukraine in Kyiv. Giuseppe Rossi pounced on a loose ball to put Italy ahead on 27 minutes, and while the dismissal of Davide Astori 15 minutes from time looked to have handed Ukraine a gilt-edged opportunity to draw level, Sebastian Giovinco helped deliver the sucker punch nine minutes from the end, with his back-heeled pass setting up debutant Alessandro Matri to fire in off the post.

FC Shakhtar Donetsk full-back Yaroslav Rakitskiy almost opened the scoring with Ukraine's first attack of the game, but Emiliano Viviano turned his long-range effort against the woodwork. Artem Fedetskiy and Andriy Yarmolenko found the goalkeeper in similarly alert mode before Italy then went ahead, Rossi pouncing after Antonio Nocerino's shot was deflected into his path by Rakitskiy.

Despite being behind at the break, Ukraine had dominated possession. However, Italy started the second half in a more positive mode and it took a perfectly timed sliding tackle from FC Dynamo Kyiv goalkeeper Olexandr Shovkovskiy to stop Rossi scoring a second.

With Andriy Shevchenko absent, Ukraine's defenders took on the attacking mantle; Rakitskiy and Fedetskiy drew saves from Viviano, while Anatoliy Tymoshchuk's shot just missed the target, but it was Ihor Oschipko who had the best chance, firing wide on the half-volley after a corner.

Debutant Astori was sent off with 15 minutes remaining for a second bookable offence, but while Ukraine moved in for the kill they were hit on the counter once more, with Giovinco teeing up first-timer Matri to perfection.

"We received answers to several important questions tonight, but we still have to work on some technical aspects," Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said, while opposite number Yuriy Kalitvintsev added: "We totally dominated, especially in the second half. Unfortunately, all that work was undone by some chaotic play in defence. Two mistak


Highlights:

http://www.101greatgoals.com/rossi-matr ... ine/88923/?

[juventino_italiano]

I wouldn't say Ukraine dominated, but they did have some pretty legitimate chances.
Italy's "backups" did a decent enough job, and Rossi is such a great little player. Hats off to Matri.

[maro]

I've just seen the highlights of the Sphincter-Schalke game. Does anyone have any comments on Ranocchia's lack of pace today?

[Bagg10]

"I told you so."
- Zlatko Zahovic

[RomaShield27]

Ranocchia was lacking pace, sure, and was badly exposed. Does that mean he's not a good defender anymore? I don't think its fair to judge him solely from that game last night. Chivu beside him in the centre of defence was just as bad, if not worse, and was stupid to get sent-off, and on two of the goals they also had very little cover from the full-backs in Zanetti and Maicon, who are as much to blame for the shit defending.

[juventino_italiano]

[maro]

I wasn't asking about his quality; I was asking about his pace. As in "he's just too slow." I didn't read that comment as a criticism of his heading ability.

[RomaShield27]

Ok. In that case, then, to answer your question, my comment about "Ranocchia's lack of pace" is that... he has... a lack of pace. With that in mind, Franco Baresi had a lack of pace, too.

[tonykart]

Ranocchia is by far the best defener Inter have had this season and should be the only center back guaranteed a starting spot for this Italy lineup.

[p_maldini_3]

i wouldn't suggest inter as a stamp of quality when it comes to defending.

[Messinterista]

No, our defending this season has been terrible. Thus preventing us from defending any of our titles

Anyway to add on to what Tony said, Ranocchia has been great this season. To think he joined us in January, and his age, it seems that he has been playing for us for several seasons.

[RomaShield27]

www.goal.com – Apr 29, 2011 6:45:00 PM

Former world champions to play Giovanni Trapattoni's Ireland and Alberto Zaccheroni's Japan before the end of the year. President of the Italian FA (FIGC), Giancarlo Abete, has confirmed plans to organise international friendlies against Republic of Ireland and Japan.

Italy play Estonia on June 3 in Modena in a Euro 2012 qualifier, but Abete is in the process of organising subsequent friendly fixtures.

"After that game [against Estonia] we are trying to arrange a friendly with [Giovanni] Trapattoni's Ireland. We still have to decide where it will take place," Abete told the press.

"We have also given our availability to the Japanese FA to play a game with them before December 31 at a time which will be 'prime' for them."

The four-time world champions currently lead Euro 2012 qualifying group C, with a five-point advantage over second-placed Slovenia.

[Messinterista]

Italian connections homies.

[RomaShield27]

http://www.irishtimes.com - Last Updated: Monday, May 16, 2011, 16:44

Soccer: The Republic of Ireland’s friendly against Italy on June 7th will be played in Belgium. A meeting between Giovanni Trapattoni’s side and Cesare Prandelli’s Azzurri has been pencilled in since February, but the venue was only confirmed by the FAI this afternoon.

Other possible venues included Philadelphia, Boston and New York but the associations have since settled on Standard Liege’s home ground, Stade Maurice Dufrasne, which has a capacity of just over 30,000. Kick-off will be 7.45pm Irish time.

The game will come three days after the Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia. Ireland face Northern Ireland and Scotland in the Carling Nations Cup later this month to prepare for the trip to Skopje.

Ireland last met Italy in World Cup 2010 qualifiers in October 2009. A late Alberto Gilardino goal rescued a point for Italy in a 2-2 draw on that occasion, while Ireland captain Robbie Keane ensured a 1-1 draw in Bari in April that year.

[RomaShield27]

Interesting article on this friendly:

Liege is 536miles from Dublin and 687miles from Rome... So why are Ireland playing Italy there on June 7?
www.independent.ie – Tuesday May 17 2011 – By Daniel McDonnell

Ireland and Italy will meet in unlikely territory on June 7, with the Belgium city of Liege confirmed as the venue for the end-of-season friendly international.

Negotiations have been ongoing for some time, with the responsibility for staging the game falling to an agent who regularly works in tandem with the Italian FA.

The initial plan was for the game to take place in New York, which would have allowed Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni to stick with his plan of organising a training camp with fringe players after the Euro 2012 qualifier in Macedonia on June 4.

Alas, that journey failed to materialise and Trapattoni will now have to make do with just one additional game and training session rather than the original aim which was a week of activities.

Then again, it might have been difficult for the 72-year-old to bring together his favoured players, given that the June international window is unpopular with players and their employers.

So, the Stade Maurice Dufrasne -- the home of Standard Liege -- will play host, a development in line with a growing trend towards international friendlies taking place on neutral soil.

Why is the game not taking place in Ireland or Italy?

This game has been organised by a third party, who takes an approach similar to that of an event organiser staging a gig.

He pays an attendance fee to the acts, incurs some of the other costs, and then looks to make the money back on selling tickets and associated match rights.

If the match took place within the Irish or Italian jurisdiction, then it would effectively become a home friendly for the association in question.

That would weigh heavily in favour of one nation while, logistically, it may not be attractive to either; with a risk factor in terms of the attendance at an inconvenient time of year removed by receiving a flat fee for turning up.

What's it worth for the FAI?

It's understood that the FAI will receive a six-figure fee for their participation in the game.

There are generally two options available for a game organised this way -- the competing association collects a match fee and also get their flights and other costs paid for, or else they simply just get the money and command a higher fee from which they look after their own travel expenses.

Why are Ireland in the frame?

The Giovanni Trapattoni factor helps, as does the fact that Ireland are free while other countries have either competitive or pre-arranged friendly commitments.

Yet the initial attraction of Ireland to the Italian agent was the prospect of a New York encounter which would have energised the respective diaspora.

From that, the FAI asked the agent if he could help organise a second game in America but, ultimately, that entire adventure was scuppered by domestic Italian concerns.

Essentially, the clubs weren't too chuffed about a situation whereby the association would be bringing their players away at the end of a long campaign. With a round of football elections looming over the horizon, the Italian FA officials made a diplomatic call.

However, a relationship with the FAI had been established, with an effective guarantee that Ireland would be part of any game that was arranged.

Why Liege?

There is a large Italian community in parts of Belgium. During the Industrial Revolution, the city was a centre for the steel industry and hordes of Italians moved to the area. In that context, the organiser will be hoping that their descendants turn out in force to make the fixture a worthwhile venture.

The Stade Maurice Dufrasne has a 30,000 capacity, so there should be plenty of tickets to cater for those who want to go.

Will Irish fans travel?

Neutral friendlies in recent years have generally taken place in London (Craven Cottage or the Emirates) or on tours of the United States, so this is a new departure with no obvious Irish link to the area.

Nevertheless, high-profile opposition might encourage fans to stump up and travel to a location which is hardly inaccessible.

Return flights were reasonably priced yesterday, although they are likely to rocket up in the coming days. However, it might be a financial stretch for the hardcore who are already shelling out large sums for the long trip to Skopje for the crucial Euro 2012 qualifier three days previously.

- Daniel McDonnell

[RomaShield27]

BALOTELLI BACK IN ITALY SQUAD
http://www.football365.com – Posted 23/05/11 20:07

Mario Balotelli has been recalled to the Italy squad but Daniele De Rossi remains in the doghouse of coach Cesare Prandelli. The pair were both dropped for the victories over Slovenia and Ukraine in March due to a violation of team rules.

On Monday Prandelli recalled Manchester City striker Balotelli, but De Rossi was left out of the 23-man group for the 2012 European Championship qualifier against Estonia on June 3 and the friendly against the Republic of Ireland four days later.

While Balotelli finished the Premiershit season in good form for City, De Rossi was absent for Roma's final three Serie A matches through suspension for violent conduct. Midfielder Andrea Pirlo is also back in the squad after overcoming a knee injury.

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Salvatore Sirigu (Palermo), Emiliano Viviano (Bologna)

Defenders: Davide Astori (Cagliari), Federico Balzaretti (Palermo), Mattia Cassani (Palermo), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Andrea Ranocchia (Inter Milan)

Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (Juventus), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Thiago Motta (Inter), Antonio Nocerino (Palermo), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan);

Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Manchester City), Antonio Cassano (Milan), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Sebastian Giovinco (Parma), Alessandro Matri (Juventus), Giampaolo Pazzini (Inter), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal)

[juventino_italiano]

I'm liking the forward line