The Official Azzurri thread 2

[tonykart]

That's basically it... our defensive talent is a joke right now. Seems all the good, young Italian players are all strikers, wingers or attack minded central midfielders. Long gone are the days where we had World Class individual defenders playing a tactically sound and indestructible defensive game.

Under Prandelli's tactics, and based on our complete lack of defensive class, we are going to just have to accept being average defenders, like the rest of the world.

That being said, we have to work with what we have... As of right now, yes, I agree, Barzagli and Chiellini are our best CB options. Ogbonna has the most potential, but I don't know if I'd ever put him next to Chiellini.

Ranocchia isn't horrible he is just in a bad situation at Inter where he is playing sloppy football on rotation. He needs to get some stability and I don't think Mazzarri will fix that... so maybe he's not an option.

Acerbi has potential, but he has a lot to prove. He's got a year, lets see what he does. The same goes for Astori, Ogbonna, Ranocchia, and any other under-estimated defender who wants to have a great year. There are open slots at CB for the World Cup roster... who wants it?

I'm also concerned with GK. Buffon is a legend, but has his time come? Is one more season going to put too much mileage on him? Is Sirigu or Marchetti really ready to step it up to that level? Abbiati? Hmmm. I'm not old enough to remember the last time Italy went to the world cup with a shitty defense and an unproven GK, but I bet it was ugly.

I argued about people underestimating Italy before Euro Cup. I knew we would perform well there, but the scene has completely changed. Our young backliners have refused to improve, and our keeper is aging. Cassano has fallen off the deep end again and Pazzini is backing up Balotelli... Balotelli who is consistently inconsistent and a first rate psychopath!

Maybe we should look into bringing some older, average Italian defenders instead of pinning our hopes on some pimply youngsters. Maybe Gastaldello, Cannavaro and dudes like that would be better. Idk.

[red]

I think Chiellini is a better defender than you guys are giving him credit for.

Sure, he doesn't have any of the finesse about his game that you associate with great Italian defenders, but I'd still trust him to mark pretty much any centre-forward one-on-one.

[tonykart]

I agree, red which is why he is better suited for a 3-man backline. He is worrying more about tackling and marking than covering zones. Chiellini is top notch, but he has his weakness... no need discussing what he is good at if we all know, but for the sake of tactical discussion you need to focus on eliminating the negative... or accentuating the positive... or latching onto the affirmative.

[Italiamia]

http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/2 ... 15183/?rss

[DCGweez]

Updated: Buffon; Abate, Bonucci, Chiellini, Antonelli; Thiago Motta, Pirlo, De Rossi; Candreva, Insigne; Gilardino 4-3-2-1

[RomaShield27]

Great to see Giaccherini dropped for leaving Italy and running to dirty evil oligarch sheik money of Nazi Mackem.

[p_maldini_3]

i do not understand this midfield. especially at home.

[RomaShield27]

Monday September 9 2013 / http://www.football-italia.net/39289/thank-you-buffon

With another landmark just around the corner, Giancarlo Rinaldi pays tribute to the goalkeeping and Italian football institution that is Gianluigi Buffon.

With his eyes closed in concentration, he belts out the words with the same passion he did as a boy. An arm around a teammate, he prepares himself to go into sporting battle once again. Since Rino Gattuso retired, nobody gives their all to L’Inno di Mameli quite like Gigi Buffon.

On Tuesday night, with all probability, he will match the record of another pillar of La Nazionale, Fabio Cannavaro. And, as he moved towards that 136th cap, his powers showed no signs of fading. Once again, Superman saved the day with a couple of breath-taking stops in the vital victory over Bulgaria on Friday night. “You thought I was dead,” his steely gaze seemed to say. “Well, think again.”

This love-affair with the blue of his country started two decades ago. As a 15-year-old he was part of an Italy youth set-up which also featured a certain Francesco Totti at the European Under-16 Championships in Turkey. From that day on he has gone on to play for the national team at every age level with honour and outstanding ability.

I have written before about comparisons between Buffon and another Italian legend, Dino Zoff. It speaks volumes about the qualities of the ‘keeper from Carrara that his only credible competitor for the title of greatest Azzurri No 1 of the modern era is of such a standard. I count myself fortunate to have seen two such stars in action between the posts for Italy.

The thing about Gigi is that he has been an integral part of our story for what seems like a lifetime since making his full international debut in October 1997. In the snows of Moscow, he looked like getting off to a winning start thanks to a Bobo Vieri goal. In an ironic twist of fate, it was Cannavaro, the man whose record he will almost certainly surpass, who knocked an own goal past him to deny him an opening victory.

Since then, he has been through almost every joy and heartache with us. From the embarrassment and anger of defeat by South Korea in 2002 to the ecstasy of lifting the World Cup in Germany four years later and every emotion in between, Buffon has been our constant companion. Like some indomitable ship’s captain standing on the deck during the most terrifying storm, he has transmitted calm and confidence in the most trying of conditions. As long as we have Gigi, you think, we are going to be OK.

It is not just about the saves, although there have been plenty of those over the years. What feels most admirable is his attitude to playing for his country. Most of us can only dream about representing the Azzurri and soon Buffon will have done it more often than anyone else in history. And yet you get the impression that it means as much to him now as it did when he was a teenager in Istanbul back in 1993.

Some of our sporting superstars seem to take international football for granted or, it appears, consider it something of an inconvenience. The slightest niggling knock or fear of getting injured for a forthcoming club fixture and they are more than happy to drop out of a squad or leave the field of play. With Buffon, however, it is quite the contrary. You would have to knock him out with a tranquilliser dart in order to get him to leave the Azzurri without a fuss.

It is that level of commitment which makes him like a lightning conductor for the emotions of us mere supporters. He seems to know how much La Nazionale means to Italians around the world and channels that power into his performances. When he makes a save, we make a save and when we punch the air to celebrate success, he does exactly the same. He might have more ability than most of us could dream of, but that does not make him feel distant. And his post-match comments carry a kind of dry, self-deprecating humour of which Zoff himself would have been proud.

Such has been the searing standard of his displays that he has made most of his understudies and would-be replacements over the years wilt and wither away. No doubt, he will have to put away the gloves some time in the not-too-distant future and we will all start to appreciate the significance of what we have lost. But, in the meantime, as he hammers out the national anthem against the Czech Republic, we should all say a heartfelt “Grazie” for the 136th time.

[DCGweez]

Onto Brazil!!!

[RomaShield27]

Bandini: How Italy coasted to the World Cup ‘with a smile’ under Prandelli:

http://blogs.thescore.com/counterattack ... prandelli/

[p_maldini_3]

Italy seeded in World Cup draw
By Football Italia staff

Italy will be one of eight top seeds in the 2014 World Cup draw on December 6.

The Azzurri were the first European sides to qualify alongside Holland, achieving this feat with two games to spare.

The seeding for the Finals draw will be based on the FIFA World Rankings and right now Italy are in fourth place.

Mathematically they cannot drop below seventh ahead of the draw, so are guaranteed top seed status.

The draw for the tournament will be made on December 6 in Costa do Sauipe, approximately 80km from Salvador.

It will be based on the FIFA rankings in October so as not to give any unfair advantage to the sides who will go through November’s play-offs.

As things stand, the eight top seeds would be Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Germany, Italy, Colombia, Belgium and Uruguay.

However, of those currently only Italy, Argentina and hosts Brazil are qualified.

[Lupa]

So Balotelli can be called up because he's served his suspension, thus Prandelli considers him eligible. Balzaretti, on the other hand, will surely be suspended one game because of his red card yet he's called up. A little inconsistent?

[Bagg10]

Have we seen a Rossi-Balotelli partnership before?

[p_maldini_3]

nope. maybe once, otherwise nope.

[Bagg10]

[Bagg10]

Tuesday October 8 2013
Italy test new trident
By Football Italia staff

Italy tested out a trident today with Mario Balotelli, Giuseppe Rossi and Antonio Candreva for Denmark.

The Azzurri will play in Copenhagen on Friday evening, then complete the World Cup qualifying campaign next Tuesday against Armenia.

Today Cesare Prandelli tested out his team with a game between ranks, testing two different tridents.

Balotelli, Rossi and Candreva took on Dani Osvaldo, Alessio Cerci and Alessandro Florenzi.

Marco Verratti and Lorenzo Insigne did not take part in the training session due to minor injuries.

Italy have already qualified for the 2014 World Cup with two games to spare.

http://www.football-italia.net/40387/it ... ew-trident

[Lupa]

[p_maldini_3]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/pit ... 05289.html

[RomaShield27]

Italy: Parolo and Criscito called
Sunday November 10 2013 / http://www.football-italia.net/41611/it ... ito-called

Marco Parolo and Domenico Criscito are the new entries in the Italy squad to face Germany and Nigeria. Cesare Prandelli named his players this evening for the two international friendlies.

The Azzurri have already qualified for the 2014 World Cup, so play Germany at San Siro on November 15 and Nigeria at London’s Craven Cottage on November 18.

As expected, Parma midfielder Parolo receives his Italy call-up at the age of 28, having scored five goals and provided two assists in Serie A this season. He had been called once, in March 2011, but never played.

Criscito returns after a series of injury problems, having rediscovered his form at Zenit St Petersburg.

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Marchetti (Lazio), Sirigu (Paris Saint Germain);

Defenders: Abate (Milan), Barzagli (Juventus), Bonucci (Juventus), Criscito (Zenit San Pietroburgo), Maggio (Napoli), Ogbonna (Juventus), Pasqual (Fiorentina), Ranocchia (Inter);

Midfielders: Candreva (Lazio), De Rossi (Roma), Diamanti (Bologna), Florenzi (Roma), Giaccherini (Sunderland), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Milan), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint Germain), Parolo (Parma), Pirlo (Juventus), Poli (Milan);

Forwards: Balotelli (Milan), Cerci (Torino), Gilardino (Genoa), Insigne (Napoli), Osvaldo (Southampton), Rossi (Fiorentina)

[RomaShield27]

http://www.thesefootballtimes.net/#!the ... ution/ch1s

With the 2014 FIFA World Cup just months away, how far have Italy evolved under Cesare Prandelli’s stewardship after the disappointment of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa? How has the master tactician instigated a stylistic change?

In 2010, after Italy’s elimination at the group stage of the FIFA World Cup, confidence in the national team was at an all-time low. La Gazzetta dello Sport described the team’s performance as the “darkest and most terrible day in the history of Italian football”.

Marcello Lippi, in his second spell as the head coach of the Azzurri, overlooked players whom he saw as disruptive influences for team spirit and harmony. Match-winners such as Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli were not considered at all in his squad selection leading up to the tournament.

In their place came, in many people’s eyes, inferior players including Simone Pepe and Vincenzo Iaquinta. These were players recognized for their graft rather than craft; a wholly regressive mentality when compared to the free flowing German and Spanish sides in addition to the victorious Italian side of 2006.

This had two effects on the team. Firstly, in tight games, they had no-one to turn to for inspiration. The only player with the imagination and artistry to unlock defences was Andrea Pirlo however he succumbed to injury just before the tournament and only recovered to play in the final 35 minutes of the group game against Slovakia.

In situations where Italy faced a compact defence, a player of Cassano’s qualities may well have made the difference between a draw and a victory. Granted, Cassano and Balotelli were notorious trouble-makers; Lippi stood firm on his stance of favoring team spirit ahead of balance and ability.

Secondly, the team was becoming overly functional in its approach during matches. The attack usually consisted of Iaquinta, Pepe and Alberto Gilardino. These are players who tend to rely on the services provided by their more creative teammates. Playing these three up front during the first two group games resulted in a slow and laboured attack which struggled to create any meaningful chances.

The humiliating performance in South Africa plummeted confidence in the national team and change was needed both in terms of playing personnel and management.

Cesare Prandelli took over the Nazionale after the 2010 World Cup amid a gloomy atmosphere. Captain Gianluigi Buffon declared that, “Italy will struggle to qualify for the 2012 European Championship and it will take a few years before Italy can get out of this rut.” Of course, Buffon failed to predict the impact of the enigmatic former Fiorentina manager.

Prandelli immediately set about establishing a code of ethics and integrating the players that Lippi had ignored. Talented but inconsistent forwards such as Cassano, Balotelli, Giuseppe Rossi, Alessandro Diamanti and Sebastian Giovinco were all integrated into his squads.

Prandelli was also open to the idea of naturalized players in the national team. Amauri, Thiago Motta and Cristian Ledesma all earned caps during Prandelli’s early regime as he aimed to transform the style of football and galvanise the fans once again. The Brescia-born boss was quoted as saying that naturalized players are the future of international football.

“In my view, the issue of the oriundi has never been a problem. It is the future of football. Just look at our youth academies, where 60 percent of the young players are foreign. Adopting the oriundi provides coaches with another option.”

Prandelli’s Italy were unbeaten throughout the Euro 2012 qualifiers, conceding only two goals in ten matches as the Juventus back three of Chiellini, Bonucci and Barzagli replicated their club form under the new regime. Settling on a 4-3-1-2 formation midway through the qualifiers, Italy’s playing style improved drastically.

Traditionally a reactive side and often guilty handing initiative to the opponents, Prandelli’s Italy looked to dominate the ball and play on the front foot. The increased dependence on Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio was just reward for their outstanding club form in Turin.

At the 2012 European Championships in Poland and Ukraine, Italy surprised the favourites and perhaps even themselves when they drew 1-1 with Spain in their opening group match. Italy neutralized the threat of Spain’s midfielders by altering their formation to a 3-5-2.

Daniele De Rossi dropped back into the centre of the three men defence, allowing the full-backs to push slightly forward into the midfield line. Italy had shifted their formation to 3-5-2 just days before the start of the tournament, when a pre-tournament friendly defeat by Russia had a significant impact on Prandelli’s outlook. It heralded a new tactical era in Azzurri football on the eve of a defining tournament.

The ease in which Italy adapted to the change was not surprising. In the season just concluded before the European Championship, many Serie A clubs had already been playing with three defenders.

Juventus, Napoli and Udinese were the foremost proponents of using a central-three in the 2011/12 Italian Serie A season. The Juventus trio of Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini were transferred into the Italy side, with Christian Maggio’s suitability to the right wing-back role making it a seamless transition. It was indeed this familiarity with the 3-5-2 that suggested adaptation could be made in short time.

Germany’s head coach Joachim Löw paid the Prandelli, a self-confessed obsessive of tactics, the greatest compliment when he said that, “Italy is a team that is incredibly flexible tactically. They are the masters of adaptation. Tactically they show extreme variety and can change formations and systems in a game seamlessly which makes them difficult to predict.”

Italy would go on to reach the final of the tournament, eventually losing to worthy winners Spain in the final. Along the way, they reverted back to the 4-3-1-2, showing the football world the tactical flexibility and nous that the Italians are famed for.

The high point of the Championships was arguably defeating fan-favourite Germany in the semi-final. Key players for Prandelli during the tournament included Balotelli and Cassano; the same two who Marcelo Lippi dismissed just two years earlier.

It’s this impressive ability to unite, focus and bring together players of all backgrounds and temperaments that has won Prandelli high praise for his work; and rightly so.

Crucially, the success of Italy reinvigorated the support for the national team back home. It brought back the wounded pride after the disappointing 2010 World Cup, but more importantly, they showed the world that Italy could play positive football too.

Fast forward to the 2013 Confederations Cup and an ever-improving Italy finished in third place. Prandelli’s main purpose though was to give tournament exposure and playing time to the fringe and young players of the squad, as well as acclimatizing to the Brazilian conditions.

Players such as Riccardo Montolivo, Emanuele Giaccherini and Mattia De Sciglio impressed during the tournament; enough to assure Prandelli that they have what it takes to represent the Azzurri in 2014, perhaps even start.

The Road to Rio was also smoothly negotiated, going undefeated once more in a tough group containing the likes of Czech Republic, Denmark and Bulgaria. During the course of qualification,

Balotelli emerged to be a key figure in the Italian set-up. Prandelli has also sought to invigorate the squad with younger players such as Alessandro Florenzi, Marco Verratti, De Sciglio, Stephan El Shaarawy and Lorenzo Insigne; all likely starters in the future.

“It is important for Italian football that youngsters such as El Shaarawy are playing consistently. We must continue along this path and look to the future with optimism. If I had played Cassano in the last few games, then El Shaarawy probably would not have found space.”

A slight weakness though can be found in central defence. There is a clear lack of quality alternatives to the Juventus trio of Barzagli, Bonucci and Chiellini who have all had injury problems over the last twelve months.

Their backups include Davide Astori (26), Angelo Ogbonna (25) and Andrea Ranocchia (25), but all three have yet to prove their quality at the international level. Italy has traditionally been a hotbed for defenders, but the recent trend seems to indicate a role reversal. Instead, the Azzurri are now blessed with an abundance of talented young midfielders and forwards.

The 2014 World Cup will probably be Prandelli’s last act with the national team. He had hinted as much in interviews, claiming that he missed working on a daily basis at a club side.

Pirlo had also stated that the World Cup will be his last international tournament. Italy, however, should be able to count on promising players such as the aforementioned Verratti and El Shaarawy for the considerable future. The 2014 World Cup will be a good gauge to see how far the national side has truly progressed under Prandelli since the debacle in South Africa.

By Paul Ng. Read more of Paul's work on his excellent blog http://orangepaul.wordpress.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @mister__orange