The Official Azzurri thread 2

[RomaShield27]

[DCGweez]

I don't think any of it matters, we should just go out and try to beat the Irish. The other game will be a sham. Enjoy the biscotto.

But those subs were awful. I said prior to the sub in the SB that MB was working hard for the team and Cassanno was done.

Most shocking is our physical condition. This team is sloppy and when they get tired even more so.

Beautiful football that leads to chit football in the second b/c they only have 45 minutes of running in them is ugly football.

[RomaShield27]

Prandelli criticises Balotelli
Italian coach frustrated with performances from City star at Euro 2012

Last Updated: June 15, 2012 6:05pm / http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7815979/?

Cesare Prandelli wants to see a big improvement from Mario Balotelli as Italy prepare for a must-win encounter with the Republic of Ireland. The Manchester City striker has yet to score at Euro 2012 and has been substituted in both of the Azzurri's games so far.

The 21-year-old looked visibly angry when removed during the game against Spain, and was replaced by Antonio Di Natale again in Thursday's draw with Italy. The Italian coach admitted to his frustration with the enigmatic Balotelli, who may not start Monday's crucial game after Prandelli stated he will make "three or four" changes to his side.

"I shouted myself hoarse for 15 minutes but I didn't manage to correct his positioning," he said. "He was coming towards the ball but then he didn't hold onto it. Either you come for the ball and hold onto it or you go long.

"If we have affection for this lad we have to tell him these things, the truth, and that's what I do. "If you want to become great you have to know how to deal with difficulty.

"I'll never abandon him. I played him from the start when the entire press corps wanted him benched. No-one can say 'I' in this team, we need courage, this is a good team. With three days to the game, we expect a great reaction from him."

One option would be to start with Di Natale, but fellow striker Antonio Cassano could also be rested, having also been substituted in both games. Cassano was recently out of the game for five months following heart surgery, and Prandelli admits he has much to ponder in his plans for a game that Italy must win to give themselves a chance of progressing into the quarter-finals.

"There will be three or four changes. Obviously in the third game, with regards to who I pick, we need freshness. We have no margin for error."

[fulhambob]

RomaShield27, apologies for my somewhat harsh judgement on Ireland, made while still utterly frustrated at our result. I, coincidentally, missed the first half of their game against Spain as I was in the car on my way home from the Italy game. The Polish commentary, which I don't understand, seemed to be rattling off Spanish name after Spanish name, punctuated only with the occasional "Given". However, and I speak as a Fulham fan, any team with Damian Duff in it is fighting a losing battle.

With regards Italy, I wonder if the Premiershit season has taken it's toll on Balotelli. I've seen plenty of him this season and he's very rarely as bad in front of goal as he was here in Poland. Maybe it's the food. When it comes to Pirlo, it's hard to knock the man who sets up and scores your only two goals, but I will. He is deadwood in the team, and teams with deadwood in them win fuck all. His passing stats are artificially high as his passes are all little short ones until he overcomplicates things and loses the ball. His corners are white and he's hit one decent free kick.

Croatia have, and I may well be wrong here, the tallest team in Euro 2012, yet we finish the game with two dwarves up front, only one of whom seemed to have any pace. Every tournament we seem to have a player who has gone way past his best and this one is no exception.

[Italiamia]

Can we fuck the analysis and narrow this down to superstition, religious idolatry and faith. The dead Pope gave me holy communion last night while I was asleep at my home parish in Trastevere. For you rubentus fans that means Papa Wojtyła. It's a sign of things to come for the Azzurri.

I don't read cards or ward off evil spirits in case somebody is interested. Please forgo the private messages until 2062.

[fulhambob]

At last; the voice of reason has spoken.

[RomaShield27]

[DCGweez]

Those fcukers Boo'd our anthem! Threw bananas, threw flares, burned the EU flag and carried a flag with the face of a known war criminal.

I hope Spain send them packing back to their shit country.

[Bagg10]

Sunday June 17 2012

Italy bring back four-man defence?
By Football Italia staff

Cesare Prandelli insisted he wouldn’t change Italy’s 3-5-2 system against Ireland, but it’s reported he tested the four-man defence in a hidden training session.

The Azzurri must win on Monday evening and hope Spain-Croatia doesn’t end 2-2 in order to reach the Euro 2012 quarter-finals.

The Coach stated in his Press conference that he would make a few changes to his side, but that did not include the 3-5-2 system.

However, it’s widely reported that Italy held a training session behind closed doors on Saturday that saw them test out the 4-3-1-2 that got them to the tournament.

Andrea Barzagli is fit again after a calf strain, so replaces Leonardo Bonucci at centre-back with their Juventus teammate Giorgio Chiellini.

Federico Balzaretti and Ignazio Abate step in as full-backs, sending Emanuele Giaccherini and Christian Maggio to the bench.

Daniele De Rossi is returned to the midfield role, while there are many doubts over who will be the trequartista.

Some newspapers suggest Thiago Motta behind the strikers, while others consider Alessandro Diamanti or Riccardo Montolivo.

Bologna man Diamanti was a surprise call-up for Euro 2012, but has repeatedly shown great form in training.

Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio remain intact. In attack, Mario Balotelli picked up a right knee injury on Saturday and is expected to miss out on the final Group C game.

This frees Antonio Di Natale to partner Antonio Cassano.

When the media were watching the session, Prandelli tested out a 3-4-1-2, maintaining the diamond midfield but also three at the back.

http://www.football-italia.net/20065/it ... an-defence

[p_maldini_3]

[RomaShield27]

No surprises from the Trap. He's been heavily criticised in Ireland following our poor showing and for stubbornly sticking with his selections. No changes at all (from our line-up against Croatia) which is a bit mad. Duffer made captain on his 100th cap.

Republic of Ireland: Given, O’Shea, Dunne, St Ledger, Ward, Duff (captain), Whelan, Andrews, McGeady, Keane, Doyle

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/euro-201 ... c-line-up/

[Messinterista]

Trap should teach his critics a lesson and field his worst team and let Italy win 2-0, no 5-0. They don't appreciate what he has done for them.

[DCGweez]

Buffon; Abate, Barzagli, Chiellini, Balzaretti; De Rossi, Pirlo, Marchisio; Motta; Cassano, Di Natale

Tactical switch. Motta in the hole....someone explain that to me.

[RomaShield27]

Jasus, that line-up has actually made me less excited about this game, which I didn't think were possible. Not much enthusiasm for it, for obvious reasons, I'm afraid. I want to see us get some pride back, naturally, and perhaps get a result – but with our line-up I don't think we will – yet I do also want to see Italia get through, so its a toughy. Good luck to all.

[RomaShield27]

[Messinterista]

The tournament is ours now Hopefully England finish first in their group so they can be our first victims of the knockouts..

[p_maldini_3]

i'll have to eat some of my words, pirlo was shit today.

at least we progressed.

[RomaShield27]

Congrats to the Azzurri, well done on getting through.

It was a much better performance from us tonight, we played a lot better and perhaps with less fear then we showed in the previous games, and I don't think it would have been unfair if we had of grabbed an equaliser in that second-half. Far too late from our point of view though, disastrous campaign.

Its raises an issue for Italy, too. Yes they done enough to get the result tonight, but they sat back on a 1-0 lead again and allowed us back into the game, much like what happened with Croatia. Don't know if its the set-up of the team or tactics or a defensive mindset from Prandelli, but they need to be more positive.

Hope Italia get England in the next round.

[juventino_italiano]

How serious is chiellini's injury?
I'd be fine with ogbonna partnering barzagli, but between chiellini and bonucci I'd take chiellini 100 times over

[DCGweez]

You can take Pirlo out of games if you really want to. But you have to screw up your shape to do it. That's why he's a deep lying MF.

I thought he was fine. He was integral on corners lest we forget.