The Official Azzurri thread 2

[Messinterista]

I'm not worried. We seem to surprise when not much is expected of us...

[Bagg10]

Injury makes Olic a doubt for EUROs
(AFP) Sunday 3 June 2012

Croatian Ivica Olic's participation at UEFA EURO 2012 could be in doubt after the striker suffered an injury to his right thigh during yesterday's friendly against Norway, their team doctor has said.

"I cannot guarantee that Olic will play at the EUROs," Croatia squad doctor Zoran Bahtijarevic told the Sportske Novosti daily online edition. The 32-year-old Bayern Munich striker, who will join Wolfsburg after the tournament, picked up the injury Croatia's final warm-up game with Norway in Oslo, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

"We did the first medical exam at the stadium in Oslo to check the flexibility of the muscle. It seemed fine, but he will undergo a complete scan on Monday in Munich," the doctor said.

Olic said he did not feel any pain, he added. "I'm an optimist. So far the medical evidence suggests he could (play at the EUROs), but let's wait until the scan."

Croatia are drawn in a tricky Group C with reigning champions Spain, Italy, and the Republic of Ireland. Slavan Bilic's side play their first match at the European Championship, hosted jointly by Poland and Ukraine, against Ireland on 10 June.

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/ ... 43588.html

[Bagg10]

Saturday June 2 2012

Prandelli: 'I'll change Italy defence'
By Football Italia staff

Cesare Prandelli admits he was “surprised” by the extent of Italy’s defeat to Russia and will take action. “We’ll change the defence and start from scratch.”

The Coach had tried to be reassuring after the 3-0 friendly loss in Zurich on Friday evening, but after 24 hours confessed it was a heavy blow.

“It’s better to suffer a defeat that puts our feet back on the ground. Russia are ready for Euro 2012, but we are not. We haven’t got much time and will use it to be prepared for June 10 against Spain,” said Prandelli.

The failure of the 4-3-1-2 system has led many to suggest Italy switch to a 3-5-2 in the style of Juventus.

“You could see the fragility of the team when we went behind and I was surprised by the defence. I am forced to try something, even if I haven’t got much time, to give some security at the back.

“It’s true we only conceded two goals in qualifying, but that was eight months ago. Now we have to work with what the lads know.

“I realise it’s difficult to find something positive to say when you lose 3-0, but in the first half we held out well against a very physical side that is ahead of us in terms of fitness.

“In the first 12 minutes of the second half we also took the initiative and had a great chance to take the lead.

“After conceding the opener, it was as if we collapsed. We’ve got to figure out if this is a psychological or physical issue. When Russia had the ball wide, we were under serious pressure.

“Obviously all the players were upset, but we all said it was better to lose in a friendly so we could begin again. Some suggested we were even favourites, but we need to get back to fighting for every ball. That’s what we said to each other in the locker room: wipe the slate clean and start from scratch.

“I had the complete squad at my disposal for only four days and in eight months this was the second game we’d played.”

On top of these problems, Prandelli and his squad have also had to deal with the betting scandal and a dawn police raid on the Coverciano training ground to serve Domenico Criscito with a notice of investigation.

“How difficult is it to play with the atmosphere around the Nazionale? It’s difficult, but you’ll see that soon Italy will be talked about only for its football.”

http://www.football-italia.net/19519/pr ... ly-defence

[Bagg10]

So something like this...?

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

Maggio----------------------------------Giaccherini
------------DDR---Pirlo--Marchisio

------------Balotelli----Cassano

[DCGweez]

Olic out for Croatia.

[p_maldini_3]

it will be suicide to change the defense now. it wasn't that the combined defense was bad, it's the defenders that just suck at defending.

[DCGweez]

I don't think it would be that bad. All 5 of the players listed have spent some time in the system, (although I don't agree with Bagg's Juve centric setup).

But a 3 man system against a 4-3-3 is not good. So I can't imagine us playing it against Spain.

If Ireland or Croatia play the counter I think it's a great system. Given what we have seen from our players of late, tactics and tactical flexibility may be the key.

We simply must someone up top catch fire P. Rossi style or we have no hope.

[DCGweez]

Barzagli out 20 days.....

[p_maldini_3]

damnit.

[Bagg10]

Monday June 4 2012

Barzagli could miss Euro 2012
By Football Italia staff

Andrea Barzagli could potentially be ruled out of the 2012 European Championship after the Italian picked up an injury.

The Juventus stopper has suffered a calf strain that Azzurri medics fear could see him sidelined for the next 20 days.

Italy are set to assess his condition before making a decision on whether to replace him in the squad with another stopper. They will have until 24 hours before their Spanish tie on Sunday to request a squad change.

Inter’s Andrea Ranocchia would be in pole position to be called up as he was in the 25-man squad before Cesare Prandelli reduced it to 23.

Reports today suggested that Italy could try out a Juventus three-man defence consisting of Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini at Euro 2012. A 3-5-2 now seems unlikely.

Italy lost 3-0 to Russia on Friday. Their preparations for the tournament have already been hampered by the match fixing investigation and an earthquake which saw their Luxembourg friendly cancelled.

http://www.football-italia.net/19578/ba ... -euro-2012

[red]

I'd suggest that's Italy fucked.

[Bagg10]

I wonder if they'll reevaluate Criscito's situation and see if there's still a serious interest in him.

If I were Prandelli I would be calling Nesta and begging him to play this tournament. I'd also ask Buffon, DDR, Pirlo, and anyone ese I could think of to convince him. But I'm not sure if we're limited to list of reserves that Prandelli has selected... Either way it's not happening, but that would be the best possible scenario.

More than likely Rannocchia is going going to get called up. I personally think astori is a much better defender, but Rannocchia has played more with both Chiellini and Bonucci.

If Barzagli can be back for the quarterfinal(in the unlikely case that we even get there), I think Prandelli might consider leaving him on the roster.

[RomaShield27]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/vide ... tory-video

[Bagg10]

FFS... Prandelli is experimenting with DDR at CB.

[RomaShield27]

[juventino_italiano]

[p_maldini_3]

you have to question prandelli's logic of just 2 pre-tournament friendlies when all the other teams are playing at least 3 times. especially when the azzuri have played just 3 times in the past 8 months (all defeats with no goals scored).

prandelli fucked up big time.

[juventino_italiano]

[red]

It's certainly not ideal having to play De Rossi at the back, but it does give a more solid look than a lot of other line-ups I've seen:



The one thing I would say is that Ogbonna and Chiellini should really be prepared to mark people. As far as possible De Rossi should be left as a sweeper.

Too many of the current 3-5-2s just play three CBs, and leave them playing zonally, for my liking.

And, aside from the sweeper being my tactical preference, I believe De Rossi is better suited to that role that playing as a CB.

[RomaShield27]

Yes, DDR is certainly no man-marker, his natural instinct is to roam and to cover where he thinks the danger is going to come from to try snuff it out. When he played in defence for Roma this season he was caught out a few times, as he was meant to be one of the defenders who was picking up an attacker. He is probably the best reader of a game Italy have, so a sweeper role would suit him. Its very late in the day to be changing tactics though.