The Official Azzurri thread 2

[Bagg10]

ITALIA!!!!! FRANCIA TI ASPETTIAMO!!!!

[RomaShield27]

So any update on Chiellini's injury? Is it likely to keep him out?

Also has a big baring on what formation Italy should progress with. The 3-5-2 was working best for them, I think, as shown with the performance against Spain, while i think they could struggle against the bigger teams if Prandelli persists with the 4-3-1-2.

[juventino_italiano]

[DCGweez]

[p_maldini_3]

i think the weakest link in yesterday's lineup was motta as trequartista. if you're playing a 4 man diamond against the 2 men of a 4-4-2 in the middle, one of those players has to bring a spark, usually its the trequartista. especially if teams are trying to get tight on pirlo, it leaves a lot of space in the back, and italy has not done a good job in exploiting this space. montolivo might've done a better job than motta.

[DCGweez]

I don't think you should think of him as a Treq. He plays up high when we are attacking but is cover for Pirlo without it.

If you put a true Treq in then DDR and Marchisio would get sucked into the middle and our WBs would have to stay back.

I'd rather have WBs and CF/Cassano with DDR and Motta making runs than diamanti CF and Antonio.

[RomaShield27]

Italy Optimistic Despite Struggles
/ Tuesday, 19 June 2012

3-5-2? 4-3-1-2? Biscotto? Those were the questions oppressing Italy coach Cesare Prandelli, his players, punditry, and fans before Italy's critical game against the Republic of Ireland. But it was Prandelli who somewhat accurately described what was the most significant reason for Italy to go through to the quarterfinals.

"Today we understood that determination made the difference, and not just our quality," said the coach in the post-match conference, the tension slowly dissipating from him after what he called the toughest game of his managerial career.

In fact, Italy's quality was a rare sight yesterday, rarer than against Spain and Croatia, and even their determination, at times, threatened to veer into panic, as the players started to look at the clock well before full-time. It wasn't until Mario Balotelli's absolutely staggering goal to make it 2-0 that Italy exhaled. Well no, that's not entirely true. They had to wait for news to filter in from the other game between Spain and Croatia, which the former won, before they could fully let go and exult.

The victory yesterday was Italy's first at a major tournament since their 2-0 defeat of France in Euro2008, and it came after football that was less than convincing. But this has been typically the case with Italy in decisive group games in recent memory (World Cup 2002, Euro2004), and yesterday, too, there was the customary drama that accompanied Italy's final group game.

Most important, however, is to understand that Italy have shown a distinct struggle for consistency and identity during their first three games at Euro2012. Against Spain, Italy were convincing for the most part, against Croatia they were tired, and against Ireland they were nervous.

The only palpable thread uniting all three performances has been the quality of Andrea Pirlo, who should be wrapped in the softest silk if Italy are to have a hope in this tournament. His feet have been poetic even at 33. He described yesterday's game as one of his "worst," but even then it was he who set up Antonio Cassano's goal, and it was he who calibrated, admittedly only at times and not as effectively as in the other two games, the pace of the game according to his mood.

Daniele De Rossi was solid all three games too, but further up the field Italy still have to discover their best combination. Playing Thiago Motta behind the strikers in a 4-3-1-2 was not extremely effective, and it is still unclear whether Prandelli will start with Antonio Di Natale, who had a decent game, or Balotelli. I would guess Balotelli will start the next game. Remember, too, that Fabio Borini has also not seen playing time yet, but perhaps he will have to be content on the bench.

Lest we forget, of course, there is also the constant question of whether to play three or four at the back. Italy don't seem to have the fitness levels for the former option, and with Giorgio Chiellini potentially injured for a couple of games, it seems four at the back may be the way to go forward (figuratively and literally), not least to include Federico Balzaretti, who was impressive last night.

All things considered, I am optimistic. I think as cliche as it is, I agree with Claudio Marchisio when he says that "Italy's tournament starts now." Italy will play one of France, England, and Ukraine next (most probably France), and there will be a need to impose themselves on their opponents.

That means Cassano has to do even more than he has, and Balotelli needs to understand--really, understand--that his superb technique, on display in full technicolour yesterday, is the precise genius that Italy are craving (incidentally, Leonardo Bonucci's muzzling of Balotelli after the latter's goal was the most endearing moment of the tournament thus far).

This Italy can reach the Final, as Marco Tardelli and Giovanni Trapattoni said yesterday. Prandelli also concurred, though he didn't put it as confidently in the affirmative.

"Now, nothing can be excluded," Prandelli has been quoted as saying by Tuttosport. On the balance of the three games the optimism may seem misplaced, but Italy are soaringly confident now that they have wriggled past the World and European Champions, an imposing Croatia side, and an Ireland who, under Trapattoni, was supposed to give them problems.

It is perhaps what was needed to lend sharp relief to Italy's slowly evolving self-realization in this tournament.

[juventino_italiano]

[RomaShield27]

So would you like to stick with the 4-3-1-2, JI – which I think limits Italy (as least with Motta at trequartista) – or the 3-5-2 and just make more positive subs?

[juventino_italiano]

[DCGweez]

The fact that we have 6 days of rest makes you think that 3 man is more viable. Without Chiellini I'd doubt we will play a 3 man though.

Balzaretti was ok. Like Bonucci fashioning himself Pirlo with the long passes to the Croatians I grew very tired of Balzaretti's blasts from 30 yards that never once troubled the keeper.

[red]

How did the word 'biscotto' come to be used to describe a game with an agreed result?

[red]

Just as it was at the start of the tournament, it's really hard to come up with a balanced looking Italy team because they are one good player away from really being able to play several formations.

Is there a case for playing 3-5-2 for the first hour of a game and then changing to 4-3-1-2 (moving De Rossi forward into midfield to offer a bit more muscle) after an hour or so when the team starts to tire? 4-3-1-2 adds a bit of solidity to the midfield and should allow Italy to do more defending in that area, where against Croatia the midfield offered very little protection for the defence.

Italy look more convincing to me in their general play in 3-5-2, so my inclination would be to stick with than as the primary formation.

I'm not that big a fan of 4-3-1-2 at the best of times, but trying to play it without a natural trequartista doesn't appeal to me.

Start with

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

--------Bonucci-De Rossi-Barzagli

Maggio-Marchisio-Pirlo-Motta-Balzaretti

-------------Cassano-???????

And change to

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

Maggio-Barzagli-Bonucci-Balzaretti

-----Marchisio-Pirlo-De Rossi

---------------Motta

----------Cassano-??????

With one change being made in midfield (Montolivo for Motta?) and one up front - both just for fresh legs.

[p_maldini_3]

did anybody else find italy's narrow midfield as funny as i did? there were times where all 4 players were in a 10 yard circle just exchanging passes. good times. but ineffective.

i think di natale will do better against defenders that push up more, which france have been doing. balotelli might've been better against a deep defense.

[red]

Ireland did push quite high up for most of the first half and there were several occasions where you could see Di Natale poised to dart in behind, but the pass either never came or was poorly delivered.

How the opposition plays should probably be the determining factor when choosing between Di Natale and Balotelli for the QF.

[DCGweez]

Biscotto means twice cooked.


I would like the final to be between Germany and Spain," Platini told reporters at a press conference in Warsaw.

[juventino_italiano]

[RomaShield27]

Bring on the fuckin english! Prandelli is a great manager, his formations and selections are always brilliant. Plus he likes beating the english.

Forza Azzurri.

[Italiamia]

I don't even know what to say anymore. Is it any wonder why a large majority of folks do not believe the world game is completely legitimate.

Platini has been hanging around Blatter for too long.

[Messinterista]

Even for a Frenchie to say that surprises me. Wouldn't he want France to win it?