The Official Azzurri thread

[Bagg10]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WoTcoA4AlIE&feature=related

[Messinterista]

[marco]

[Messinterista]

[RomaShield27]

[Messinterista]

i was actually thinking about a seperate thread, but are we really going to discuss about the other teams or really the azzurri's oponents?

[p_maldini_3]

Euro-Italy seen as favourites despite disjointed displays

12 hours, 38 minutes ago

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By Mark Meadows

MILAN, May 23 (Reuters) - World champions Italy produced some disjointed performances in qualifying but the form of striker Luca Toni and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon means it would take a brave man to bet against them at Euro 2008.

Repeating France’s 2000 feat of winning the European championship straight after a World Cup looked remote when Italy suffered a post-Germany hangover in early qualifying.

Coach Roberto Donadoni began his reign with a 1-1 home draw against Lithuania and a 3-1 loss in Paris as France gained a modicum of revenge for their World Cup final defeat.

Results improved during the rest of qualifying but performances remained patchy.

Midfielders Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso and Massimo Ambrosini have tended to stand together around the centre circle, sometimes creating an unhelpful gap between themselves and the attack, just as the trio have in AC Milan’s poor season.

Donadoni’s favoured three-pronged attack lacks a player in the hole to link up the play, a job AS Roma’s Francesco Totti could have done if he had not retired from internationals.

Udinese forward Antonio Di Natale has become the unlikely saviour in the left forward position, darting between midfield and Toni upfront.

Di Natale’s excellent displays are why Donadoni had been ignoring Juventus striker Alessandro The Waterboy since an under-par performance in last September’s 0-0 home draw with France, despite a superb season with Juve.

Donadoni hinted the 33-year-old was too old for international football, and the player has said the wide left role does not suit him.

However, buoyed by his league form, The Waterboy still managed to earn a place in Donadoni’s provisional 24-man squad for the finals.

Toni on the other hand is a certain starter after a marvellous first season at Bayern Munich following a prolific campaign for Fiorentina. Despite turning 31 later this month, Toni has improved since the World Cup and will be a handful for any defender.

Who plays on the right of the front three is not yet clear, with Juve’s Mauro Camoranesi probably ahead on current form.

Team mate Buffon always seems to be on form and few can argue against those who say he is the best keeper in the world.

Captain Fabio Cannavaro is slower and more error-prone than when he lifted the World Cup but still looks top class with Buffon behind him.

If Italy can gel as a unit as they did under Marcello Lippi in 2006, they have enough promise to go all the way again.
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[Italiamia]

I also believe Cannavaro is a concern. He is not the same player he was in Germany. He was not impressive against Roma in the CL as well.

[stefano]

Cannavaro for Italia is a different story though. He will do his job and lead this team as he has in the past. I want him playing with CHiellini though, not Matrix. Cannavaro- Matrix got it done 2 years ago, but something else is now needed.

[oily]

isnt dossena a starter with the NT? cant wait to see him play in the euros...

how good is he? overrated?

[marco]

dossena is a bit off the azzurri radar. i dont even think he's ever been called up...maybe some obscure friendly game. pretty solid left back player though.

[SuperPippo9]

he has one cap.. he impressed against South Africa...

- Bagg

[Messinterista]

[Messinterista]

[RomaShield27]

Van Basten: Italy are favourites
Football Italia – Saturday 24 May, 2008

Holland Coach Marco Van Basten believes Italy and France are favourites to win this summer’s European Championship. The former Milan striker will take on both teams, along with Romania in Group C.

“I believe that France and Italy are, without doubt, stronger than they were in 2006, when they reached the World Cup Final. “Their squads are a mix of experience and youth, and this is an advantage. France have impressed me from a physical point of view. They are very strong.â€

[Messinterista]

i h8 that we are favourites. puts far too much pressure on the squad. but perhaps thats what they need?

[p_maldini_3]

[Bagg10]

[Zoff82]

[Zoff82]