The Official Azzurri thread 2

[Zoff82]

Does anyone think the recent passing of Morosini can propel/motivate this team to play for him?

[Bagg10]

[tonykart]

Amauri is a joke and osvaldo is not good enough for that level of play. Looks like we will be welcoming back The Waterboy or Di Natale... yep... the sound of steamy farts now fills the air...

Maybe we will play amazing defense?

[p_maldini_3]

with all the amazing defenders we have at our disposal, i look forward to it.

[DavidP]

[Bagg10]

I think it'll end up being(If Giovinco is considered a midfielder): Cassano, Balotelli, Pazzini, Matri, Osvaldo, Di Natale

[DavidP]

that, or the stars are aligning for Il Capitano to make a comeback

[Bagg10]

^ if totti is considered than deľ piero should be in the discussion as well. But I don't see either of them going.

[p_maldini_3]

[Bagg10]

Here's who i'd take (not who I think is going)

GK: Buffon, De Sanctis, Sirigu(or Viviano, it doesn't really matter. Actually Marchetti is probably in the running too)

Defenders: Chiellini, Barzagli, Bonucci, Ogbonna, Cassani/Maggio, Balzaretti, Criscito

Midfielders: DDR, Pirlo, Marchisio, Montolivo, Thiago Motta, Mauri,

Forwards: Cassano, Giovinco, Balotelli, Matri, [(2 out of these 3) Quagliarella, Di Natale, Pazzini]

The remaining spot I'd have a tough choice between Astori, De Ceglie, Pepe, and Giaccherini


I hate to say it but Di Natale is a choke. I was a big fan of his when he was at Empoli and I even like him now. It's a shame he wasn't a consistent fixture in the NT after his debut against the Czech Rep in 04(which he scored in).
Di Natale is a consistent scorer for Udinese but he's choked when it's comes to big games(i.e Euro 08, WC10, and CL against Arsenal)
Though, on the NT he's been played out of position. I think if he played in front of Cassano as a targetman like he does for Udinese, he'd do a lot better.

I think the third keeper spot is up for grabs by Sirigu, Viviano, and maybe even Marchetti. The only reason the selection might be important is because if god forbid Buffon were to go out with a back injury or something, De Sanctis isn't exactly a stand out second choice back up.

I left Nocerino out. I'm sure TK is gonna give me shit for it, but honestly I don't think he's better than any of the other midfielders I picked. I think Mauri is highly underrated and versatile and I've always liked him. Plus he's having a good season.

Honestly I find it tough to leave out Pepe and/or Giaccherini they've both been amazing this season. They're extremely versatile and they work hard. If I had to pick one over the other I think I'd pick Giaccherini, just because I think he does a better job in the center and he holds up the ball well, while Pepe is prone to let his man go on counters and set pieces.

[p_maldini_3]

you have 3 LB's and 1 RB?

besides pirlo and ddr, nocerino is having a better season than the rest of those midfielders. how many of those players can say they scored in the camp nou?

i would drop di natale and bring in borini. i completely forgot about that kid. his movement would be great with cassano and his hustle would help in the last 10-15 mins of a game.

[RomaShield27]

Both Borini and Osvaldo will be on that plane for certain. Forget about your Quagliarella's or Di Natale's or Pazzini's, for feck sake. They''d even be ahead of Matri and Giovinco.

[Bagg10]

[Savant]

I think Sirigu is definitely going. I think I would like to see Nesta go to the tournament. I am sure he must feel like he has unfinished business in the Azzuro shirt. Maggio if fit is a must.

I reckon Nocerino is almost a definite for the squad. I think he is technically weak but he does have a bit of that grinta that I believe many Italian teams are lacking. I must say I don't really rate him. He is the poor man's Gattuso (when he was at his peak). I respect his energy and work ethic. But I can't stand misplacing simple passes. With that said most players (bar Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Pirlo) tend to mess up simple passes I have noticed in recent seasons, IMO at least. Although Montolivo is technically superior to Nocerino, he will mess up passes and inconsistently offer a killer pass. I have no doubt Riccardo will probably let Italia down again. Whereas Antonio will give his maximum output, albeit qualitatively less than the Firenze man.

I am excited to see Pirlo play in the tournament.

Given the absence of Rossi and Cassano only returning, maybe playing one man up front is the way to go. Giovinco can play in the hole and having Totti or The Waterboy as an alternative option for the last 20 minutes of a game could be worthwhile. Balotelli appears to be the only obvious first choice centre-forward, but he is unreliable. After that who is number 2? I don't think Osvaldo is that good. Di Natale plays better for Udine than the Azzurri.

[Bagg10]

Wednesday April 18 2012

Quagliarella’s twist of fate
Giuseppe Rossi’s wretched misfortune could open the Euro 2012 door for Juventus’ Fabio Quagliarella, writes Antonio Labbate.

“I dream that the European Championship can end for me in the same way that Francesco Totti’s World Cup did in 2006 after his injury,” stated Giuseppe Rossi. “Italy boss Cesare Prandelli knows what I can give to the team and what I can do on the pitch. I would like to give my contribution in Poland and Ukraine.”

Those were the words of the Villarreal man in March as he edged closer to recovering from knee ligament surgery which had seen him sidelined since the autumn. Fast forward to last Friday and Pepito’s Euro 2012 hopes vanished with a twist of the same knee in training. Another operation, another six months out.

Rossi, however, could only have been realistically considered as an outsider to actually make the squad, even before his most recent setback. Prandelli had publicly declared that he would wait until the very last moment to verify the fitness and form of the American-born prodigy, but time was always against the 25-year-old to prove that he was ready to play at the levels needed for the Azzurri.

Fabio Quagliarella knows a thing or two about that. Just six minutes into the first Serie A game of 2011, the Juventus man collapsed under his own weight in a tie against Parma. Damaged right knee ligaments saw his campaign come to an end and only now, 15 months after the event, is he anywhere near to his previous best.

“Boss Antonio Conte got to know me initially when I was still finding my feet after my fitness problems,” the forward noted recently. “When I started to feel better I wanted to play, but the Coach, quite rightly, told me that I had to wait as I wasn’t ready.”

Quagliarella, 28, has only been used 20 times in Serie A this term – and 13 of those have come from the bench. However, he’s broken into the first team plans of the demanding Conte in recent weeks and he could soon do the same when it comes to Prandelli.

Although the versatile striker hasn’t played for his country since the 1-1 draw with Romania in a 2010 friendly, there are the conditions in place for Quagliarella to make a return to the Giro Azzurro just in time for this summer’s championships.

Prandelli has got more of a migraine than a headache when it comes to his attacking department. Having stumbled on the effective little and little formula of Antonio Cassano and Rossi in qualifying, both were then taken out of the equation for fitness issues in late 2011.

While Milan’s Cassano is now playing again following heart surgery, it’s by no means certain that the former Fiorentina boss will take a gamble on him. That leaves Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli as the only real certainty in the forward squad – even with his code of ethics issues – amidst a bunch of other attackers who have question marks against them.

Antonio Di Natale of Udinese continues to find the net, but he can’t physically guarantee Udinese three games in a week at his 34-years-of-age. Roma’s Fabio Borini is inexperienced, whereas teammate Pablo Daniel Osvaldo is inconsistent. Parma’s Sebastian Giovinco looks more like a squad player at this level, while the current lack of form shown by Alberto Gilardino of Genoa, Juventus’ Alessandro Matri and Inter’s Giampaolo Pazzini is terrifying.

It’s with such a backdrop that Quagliarella has to seriously be considered for selection. He’s got a touch of invention that other attacking options don’t have, as well as a freshness – he’s played in only 786 minutes of Serie A football this term – which could give the Azzurri that edge which they are currently lacking up front.

“I admit that returning to the Italy squad is one of my prime targets,” Quagliarella states. “I want to enter the thoughts of Prandelli again, but it all depends on what I can do with Juventus for the rest of this season.” Quagliarella’s got six games and four weeks to make his case.

http://www.football-italia.net/17820/qu ... twist-fate

[RomaShield27]

http://soccerlens.com/italy-euro-2012-p ... irt/92243/?

[tonykart]

GK: Buffon, De Sanctis, Sirigu
DF: Chiellini, Barzagli, Bonucci, Balzaretti, Criscito, Maggio, Cassani
MF: Nocerino, Pirlo, Marchisio, De Rossi, Montolivo, Mauri, Motta
FW: Giovinco, Cassano, Balotelli, Di Natale, Matri, Quagliarella

[Bagg10]

Ogbonna?

[RomaShield27]

Balosmelly?

"I never really thought of doing this without Balotelli, as he is a focal point of the national team. Have I made peace with Balotelli? Yes, although to be honest we never argued in the first place. I was pleased that he took responsibility with his statements after the latest incident at Manchester City. I like those who stand up and accept responsibility for their actions."

– Cesare Prandelli

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012 ... elli-italy?

[Bagg10]

Today is the 8th anniversary of Baggio's last International game(farewell friendly against Spain 4-28-04)