The Official Azzurri thread 2

[RomaShield27]

Euro 2012: Balotelli threatens to walk off if abused
30 May 2012 / Last updated at 06:12 GMT / http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18260738

Manchester City and Italy striker Mario Balotelli has threatened to walk off the pitch if he is racially abused at Euro 2012, which kicks off next week. Balotelli added he would "kill" anyone who dared throw a banana at him in the street.

A recent BBC Panorama programme revealed cases of racism and anti-Semitism in football grounds in host nations Poland and Ukraine.
"If [racism] does happen I would leave the pitch and go home," said Balotelli.

"Racism is unacceptable to me, I cannot bear it. We are in 2012, it can't happen. "If someone throws a banana at me in the street, I will go to prison because I will kill him."

The Panorama programme showed fans making Nazi salutes on the terraces, black players being taunted with monkey chants and a vicious assault on a group of Asian students.

Former England captain Sol Campbell advised fans not to travel, suggesting they would be risking their lives if they did so. Ukraine's Euro 2012 director Markian Lubkivsky said Campbell's remarks were "insolent".

Former Inter Milan striker Balotelli, 21, was regularly the target of racist abuse when playing in Italy. In an interview with France Football, Balotelli also said he believes he is a genius.

"I think I am a genius, but not a rebel," he said. "I have my life, my world. I do what I want, without annoying anyone. "I believe I am more intelligent than the average person.

"The talent God gave me is beautiful and wonderful, but it is difficult because you are always facing other people keen to judge you. "There are few people with such talent, so there are few able to judge what I am doing."

[Messinterista]

I understand where Balo is coming from, but making a comment like this will just provoke some retard into pulling a stunt that will get our man in trouble. Just hope he can keep it together.

[Bagg10]

[RomaShield27]

Line-ups: Italy-Russia
/ Friday June 1 2012

Italy’s only pre-Euro 2012 friendly test has Riccardo Montolivo supporting Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano against Russia. The other match against Luxembourg was cancelled on Tuesday after the earthquake that hit the Emilia-Romagna region. Cesare Prandelli is adopting a 4-3-1-2 with Montolivo as trequartista behind Cassano-Balotelli, a strike pair who have played only 59 minutes of football together. Their only game as a partnership was Prandelli’s first ever friendly, a 1-0 defeat to the Ivory Coast in August 2010. Despite the betting scandal that threatens to pull him into the investigation, Leonardo Bonucci starts in central defence with Juventus teammate Andrea Barzagli. Russia are also in Euro 2012 and have the second strongest defensive record in qualifying, behind Italy, by conceding only four goals. Kick-off in Zurich is at 19.45 UK time.

Italy (4-3-1-2): 1 Buffon; 2 Maggio, 15 Barzagli, 19 Bonucci, 6 Balzaretti; 16 De Rossi, 21 Pirlo, 8 Marchisio; 18 Montolivo; 10 Cassano, 9 Balotelli

Italy bench: 14 De Sanctis, 7 Abate, 4 Ogbonna, 3 Chiellini, 5 Thiago Motta, 23 Nocerino, 22 Diamanti, 13 Giaccherini, 17 Borini, 11 Di Natale, 20 Giovinco

Russia (3-4-3): Malafeev; Zhirkov, Berezutski, Ignashevich; Dzagoev, Denisov, Zyryanov, Shirokov; Nababkin, Arshavin, Kerzhakov

[Bagg10]

If I were Prandelli I'd issue a press silence. The stories are getting ridiculous, and it's a distraction to the team.

[juventino_italiano]

[Messinterista]

The last time we went into a major competition and had a mess like this was WC'06. Good omen?

[Messinterista]

[juventino_italiano]

[Lombardiamia]

[Bagg10]

I agree with Buffon.

I don't think Prandelli would try this, but after watching the game today I would like to see this tried out.

-------------------------Buffon
Ogbonna--------Barzagli----Bonucci-------Chiellini

-------------------------Pirlo
Giaccherini----DDR-----------Marchisio------Diamanti

----------------------Di Natale

[DCGweez]

Cassano always looks fat. I didn't think he looks any more so now.

And I'm sick of Marchisio. He's a passenger. Bring in Nocerino. He tends to be much more active. He's a better goal scorer too which this team needs desperately.

[Lombardiamia]

[forzaitalia]

Anyone else fearing the worst? After a defeat to Spain, which, despite the friendly win against them in the last meeting, is likely, it's likely 6 points will be needed v Ireland and Croatia to qualify. Which I can't see this squad getting

[juventino_italiano]

All i hope for is that Prandelli isnt fired.

Italy is just between generations....there's experience and inexperience, no inbetween, little transition....
That is Lippi's fault from 2010...

[DCGweez]

Certainly not feeling confident forza. But if Buffon were in there you have to believe that at least 2 of those goals don't go in. De Sanctis is horrible.

[DCGweez]

[juventino_italiano]

DCG...

I agree with your two points.
De Sanctis is not that good and Osvaldo should never be included again.
Hell...i'd rather play Amauri over him

[p_maldini_3]

it wasn't that bad of a game. italy looked very dangerous in the second half when everything started to click and they created plenty of opportunities. if your strikers aren't creating any scoring chances, that is when you have to worry.

i'll have to agree with dcg about marchisio, this guy never seems to show up, de rossi was doing a much better of what we think marchisio should be doing. and the 15 mins that nocerino was on he had more sorties than marchisio did the entire game.

and i'm not sure if balzaretti is good enough, he got into many great positions but instead of sending in a cross or trying to get behind his man (which ogbonna did once), he just passed the ball backwards.

it seemed like the plan was to push the opposing defense deep into their box, roll the ball back for pirlo and then have him attempt a dink over the top. it worked on a couple of occasions.

pirlo is beautiful.

but this defense. how bad is it? sucks so bad.

[p_maldini_3]

http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/20 ... inese-bari

italy will miss criscito more than bonucci. what a shame.