The Official Azzurri thread 2

[Marco_Italia]

[Bagg10]

Wednesday 29 June, 2011
Italy climb in FIFA rankings



Italy’s recent results have seen them climb to sixth place in the FIFA World Rankings.
The Azzurri had slipped out of the top 10 after the disastrous 2010 World Cup in South Africa last summer.

They have been transformed under Coach Cesare Prandelli and this month climbed to sixth position from ninth in May.

The ranking status could prove crucial when it comes to the draw for the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign, which will be held on July 30 in Rio de Janeiro.

World and European champions Spain continue to lead the way, followed by Holland, Germany, England and Brazil.

http://www.football-italia.net/jun29r.html

[Bagg10]

How the fuck is England in 4th??

[Messinterista]

[RomaShield27]

As Bagg said in the SB, five year anniversary of the mighty Azzurri winning the World Cup 2006 is on 9 July, some quality videos, always good to watch:

Italia Germania 2-0 Caressa



ITALIA - FRANCIA - FINALE MONDIALI GERMANIA 2006 (1/2)



ITALIA - FRANCIA - FINALE MONDIALI GERMANIA 2006 (2/2)

[Bagg10]

29 years ago today



July 5th, 1982

[Messinterista]

[forzaitalia]

5 years ago today, YES! Magic.

[RomaShield27]

- Yesterday, 19:48

[Bagg10]

Chiellini thinks Juve being out of Europe helps Juve in the title race, I think it might help Italy for Euro 2012. Pirlo has been exhausted these past few years. He's been playing for Milan in 3 competitions for a decade now, plus wc 2006, Confederations cup 2009, WC 2010. I think the two competition campaign will be a huge benefit to not only him, but Buffon as well. The only players it might hurt is Bonucci, Marchisio, Matri and maybe even Chiellini, because they won't be getting the CL/EL experience that the Spanish/German/English/Dutch/etc are getting.

[p_maldini_3]

if the players suck, there is no amount of CL/EL experience that will make them get better.

[Bagg10]

[forzaitalia]

What a pr*ck!

[ancient milanista]

[forzaitalia]

[Mi piace calcio]

[quote="forzaitalia

He thinks he's a lot better than he actually is, too.

[/quote]

Agreed. He really does think he is a superstar but doesn't seem bothered about trivialities such as proving it consistently over the course of a season.

[Bagg10]

Wednesday 27 July, 2011
Italy top seeds in World Cup draw



Italy have slipped to eighth place in the FIFA World Ranking, but will be among nine seeds for the World Cup qualifying draw.
The Azzurri had been in sixth position in June, but the Copa America has changed the situation even though there have been no European matches this month.

Uruguay won the trophy and have therefore leapfrogged into fifth place, going above Italy.

There is good news, though, as Cesare Prandelli’s side are one of nine seeds for Saturday’s World Cup qualifying draw.

The draw in Rio de Janeiro begins the run-up to the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

Other European top seeds are Spain, Holland, Germany, England, Portugal, Croatia, Norway and Greece.

The big surprise is that France have fallen into Pot 2, so could well end up in Italy’s group.

Pot 1: Spain, Holland, Germany, England Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Norway, Greece
Pot 2: France, Montenegro, Russia, Sweden, Denmark, Slovenia, Turkey, Serbia, Slovakia
Pot 3: Switzerland, Israel, Republic of Ireland, Belgium, Czech Republic, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Belarus, Ukraine, Hungary
Pot 4: Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia, Lithuania, Albania, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Austria, Poland
Pot 5: Armenia, Finland, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Moldova, Macedonia, Azerbaijan, Faroe Islands
Pot 6: Wales, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Malta, Andorra, San Marino

http://www.football-italia.net/jul27t.html

[RomaShield27]

– By Will Cook – Tuesday 02 August 2011

[Bagg10]

Italia-Spagna: Prandelli chiama De Rossi, Balotelli, Cassano; no ad Amauri

19:28 del 04 agosto
La Nazionale riprende l’attività il 10 agosto con un’amichevole di lusso a Bari contro i campioni del Mondo e d’Europa della Spagna e con il ritorno di Daniele De Rossi nel gruppo dei 24 calciatori convocati oggi da Cesare Prandelli.

Gli Azzurri si raduneranno entro la mezzanotte di domenica 7 presso il Centro tecnico federale di Coverciano, dove sosterranno lunedì una doppia seduta di lavoro, mentre martedì, dopo l’allenamento del mattino, la comitiva azzurra partirà per Bari dove nel tardo pomeriggio effettuerà la rifinitura sul terreno del “San Nicola”.

I calciatori dell’Inter e del Milan, a Pechino per la gara di Supercoppa Italiana in programma il prossimo 6 Agosto, e Giuseppe Rossi, impegnato in una gara amichevole con il proprio club, sono stati autorizzati a raggiungere il raduno lunedì 8 Agosto entro le ore 12.30.

Questi i convocati di Prandelli:

Portieri: Buffon (Juventus), De Sanctis (Napoli) Sirigu (Paris St. Germain);

Difensori: Balzaretti (Palermo), Bonucci (Juventus) Cassani (Palermo), Chiellini (Juventus), Criscito (Zenit St. Pietroburgo), Maggio (Napoli), Ogbonna (Torino), Ranocchia (Inter);

Centrocampisti: Aquilani (Liverfekkin'wankscum), De Rossi (Roma), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Motta Thiago (Inter), Nocerino (Palermo), Palombo (Sampdoria), Pirlo (Juventus);

Attaccanti: Balotelli (Manchester City), Cassano (Milan), Giovinco (Parma), Pazzini (Inter), Rossi (Villarreal).

http://www.calciomercato.com/juventus/i ... lan-994337

[Bagg10]

Did he really need to call up 8 central midfielders? It would have also been nice to see him call up Matri, maybe leave Balotelli at home for being a pr*ck.