The Official Azzurri thread 2

[maro]

Anyone who makes the quarters is a 'contender'. Don't forget this 'great' Spanish team only got past a supposedly terribly ordinary Azzurri team on penalties.

[tonykart]

[Messinterista]

No, I really think we can win it. Prandelli will weave some magic when the time comes. Spain will start their 'chocking' episodes again in the next Euro.

[howsaboutno(CalUk)]

Why no Abate in the squad for the up coming qualifiers!! What has he got to do to get in the squad! Why are Astori and Balzaretti in the squad over abate???

[red]

Astori is a CB, isn't he?

And Balzaretti is a LB.

It's Cassani and Maggio that Abate has to compete with for a place in the squad.

[Bagg10]

[howsaboutno(CalUk)]

I meant in terms of quality I see Abate being far superior to the like of Balzaretti Astori and Nocerino so why are they in the squad over him?

[red]

Because they are considered to be among the best in their position.

Or should Italy just be picking the best 23 players, even if that results in them picking a completely unbalanced squad?

[RomaShield27]

You can only have so many right-backs. Cassani and Maggio are both proven, established full-backs who offer a lot. I like Abate, but he just needs to be patient, and maybe have another good, consistent season with Milan, and his time will come.



– Milano, 30 August 2011

The Italy midfielder doesn't pull any punches: "The strike could have been avoided. Juve straight back into the Champions League and we have to make up the gap with AC Milan and Inter"

[forzaitalia]

^ Depressing last couple of lines

[tonykart]

[tonykart]

[Bagg10]

Probable line up:

-------------------Buffon

Maggio-----Rannocchia----Chiellini----Criscito

----------De Rossi---Pirlo----Motta

--------------------Montolivo
-----------Cassano------------Rossi

[RomaShield27]

Italy: 3 points with minimum effort
http://english.gazzetta.it/Football/02- ... 7543.shtml?

Cassano's strike sees off the Faroes
Milano, 03 September 2011

The Azzurri claimed a 1-0 victory in Torshavn thanks to an 11th-minute strike by the AC Milan forward. Then followed little good play and a fair amount of suffering (the hosts hit the woodwork twice), but Italy can now qualify if they beat Slovenia in Florence on Tuesday.
Italy won again and the bow of the ship is now pointing directly towards Euro 2012. Yet only after navigating through a far choppier Faroe sea than was expected before departure. It ended 0-1 in Torshavn, with Cassano's 11th-minute goal deciding the encounter. Italy spent the whole game on the attack while the Faroe Islands defended, letting the tide of the first 20 minutes pass and somehow remaining afloat. When they dared to change course and head in the direction of Buffon's goal - once in each half - they were denied by the woodwork. Their second chance went particularly close to upturning the Azzurri's boat, Holst rattling the bar from close range with 20 minutes left to play. The wind is clearly blowing in our direction at the moment and that was confirmed by news that Slovenia – Italy's next opponents – had been defeated at home by Estonia. On Tuesday in Florence, Italy can seal mathematical qualification for Poland and Ukraine in record time.

WHAT A START — The Azzurri were out of the blocks like a rocket and created a flurry of chances in the opening 5 minutes. The first fell to Montolivo before Cassano, played in on goal by Pirlo, fired at the keeper. It didn't take him long to make amends though. In the 11th minute, Pirlo lined up the goniometer and found a splendid angle over the defence to feed the AC Milan forward, who just managed to beat the offside trap (not according to the locals), win a rebound off the keeper and place into an empty net. It was Antonio's seventh goal for the national team. At that point some of us reached for the abacus, because it looked as if the goal might spark a rout. The show was orchestrated by Italy's skilful midfield, playing the ball first time and switching positions frequently. Pirlo was in particularly sparkling form.

OLSEN'S POST — Instead it was the cue for the game to settle down. Because Italy slowed the pace and because the Faroese probably feared getting crushed by a tidal wave of goals unlike any other previously seen in these parts. So the home side stood off and defended their port, putting 10 men behind the ball. It worked, too. Or at least, it stemmed the flow. First Edmundsson tried his luck from range, then Olsen drilled a left-footed strike that beat Buffon only to come back off the post. Italy weren't resting on their laurels as such, but with little space to work with (and Rossi denied the chance to make his deadly runs), the lack of centimetres in our strike force began to be felt. 1-0 at half time with the match anything but decided.

IL PAZZO ENTERS THE FRAY — Things remained in the balance after the restart. The Faroes stayed afloat, the rain picked up and with it the risks too – you couldn't rule out one of the Faroe Islanders snatching a late goal. And although Pazzini's entrance beefed up the attack a little, a nasty surprise remained a distinct possibility. It almost came in the 70th minute when Holst planted his shot onto the bar – to the disappointment of the entire stadium, who were now beginning to believe it themselves. Prandelli threw Balotelli on for Cassano in the last 5 minutes, to help out in the air and to increase the physical presence of his charges. So Italy held on for the win. It wasn't the most thrilling of voyages but all that mattered was the three-point cargo picked up at the port of Torshavn.

FAROE ISLANDS 0-1 ITALY

SCORER: Cassano 11.

FAROE ISLANDS (4-4-1-1): Torgard; Naes, Gregersen, Baldvinsson, J. Davidsen; Elttor, Benjaminsen, Olsen (Danielsen 75), Justinussen (Samuelsen 87); Holst (Mauritsen 87); Edmundsson. (Joensen, V. Davidsen, Danielsen, Udsen, Lokin). Coach: Kerr.
ITALY (4-3-1-2): Buffon; Maggio, Ranocchia, Chiellini, Criscito; Thiago Motta (Aquilani 73), Pirlo, De Rossi; Montolivo; Cassano (Balotelli 85), Rossi (Pazzini 59). (Sirigu, Balzaretti, Bonucci, Aquilani, Marchisio). Coach: Prandelli.

REFEREE: Bognar (Hun)

NOTES: Spectators: approximately 5000, full stadium. Booked: Olsen. Added time: 1 minute 1st half, 5 minutes second half.

[juventino_italiano]

Not much to say about this.
Not particularly happy about the performance but a win is a win.

Unfortunately, Georgia beat these guys 6-0 in Torshavn before, so Georgia is at least 6X the team Italy is, clearly!

[RomaShield27]

[DavidP]

[juventino_italiano]

[RomaShield27]

Forza Georgia!

[juventino_italiano]