The Official Azzurri thread

[Bagg10]

he's not THE GUY, but he's a guy, a talented one. I was impressed with him on his debut in 03 against Czech Republic, and it is unfortunate that he's such a late cloomer on the national stage which is kind of ironic because he's partnering Luca Toni. If he keeps up this form Anto and tender Alex won't get a look in.

[SuperPippo9]

i think anto today was marvelous in the 20 odd mins he played but those fukin belgians would not let him play kept fouling him. really disappointed with The Waterboy other than the assist really slow on the ball. He would get past one player and then hold on to the ball much too long, pretty much confirmed his bench warmer roll for euro's hopefully he can impress in training. I think Cassano, Camo and Di Natale are gonna give Donadoni a good headache.

[Italiamia]

[Bagg10]

[Messinterista]

International Friendly - May 30, 2008

Source: http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_ ... a-bel.html

Italy 3-1 Belgium
Di Natale 9, 41 (I), Camoranesi 49 (I), Sonck 93 (B)
Stadio Franchi, Fiorentina

An Antonio Di Natale brace and Mauro Camoranesi helped Italy to a comfortable 3-1 friendly win over Belgium in Florence ahead of Euro 2008.

The Azzurri's final act before setting off for the European Championship in Austria and Switzerland was a friendly at Fiorentina's Stadio Franchi - the venue of their final game before World Cup 2006.

Roberto Donadoni was expected to experiment with his team selection, but the only real surprise was the inclusion of Roma star Alberto Aquilani.

The world champions lined up with a 4-3-3 formation and Mauro Camoranesi, Antonio Di Natale and Luca Toni up front.

Unsettled Lazio midfielder Gaby Mudingayi lined up against his Serie A colleagues.

From the off, Italy went in search of the opening goal and after eight minutes Camoranesi's cross was headed marginally over the bar by Christian Panucci.

After nine minutes, the Azzurri were ahead. Pirlo's cross from the right was met by Udinese hitman Di Natale who burst Stijn Stijnen's net.

The hosts were stroking the ball around with confidence and Pirlo's free-kick was tipped away for a corner and an Aquilani cross was pushed out for a corner.

Donadoni's men slowed the tempo but could've doubled their advantage when Stijnen had to dive to keep a Pirlo free-kick out and show lightning quick reflexes to gather the rebound.

Di Natale spurned a golden chance when he was played through in the 28th minute before a long-range Aquilani rocket went wide.

Steven Defour should have done better when he found space in the box 10 minutes before the break, but he fluffed his lines.

And Italy made the Belgians pay in the 41st minute and it was Di Natale again who rolled his precise shot past an advancing Stijnen after Aquilani played it to him in the box.

The visitors were left kicking themselves after sloppy work at the back allowed Aquilani to take possession in the danger zone, but it was no more than the Italians deserved.

Donadoni made three changes at half-time, introducing Fabio Grosso, Giorgio Chiellini and Alessandro The Waterboy for Panucci, Fabio Cannavaro and brace hero Di Natale.

But the changes did nothing to lessen the Azzurri's domination and they went 3-0 up in the 49th minute when The Waterboy made an immediate impression with a superb incisive ball to Camoranesi who stroked home.

Belgium tried to fight back and Zambrotta had to smartly block a Sebastien Pocognoli strike for a corner.

Toni wasn't allowed to pull the trigger when Jan Vertonghen reacted in time to divert a The Waterboy ball.

Antonio Cassano took the place of Camoranesi just after the hour mark and received a rapturous reception.

Belgium went close through substitute Wesley Sonck whose header skimmed the bar, while Toni's effort was comfortably saved by Stijnen.

A heavy rain shower and a glut of substitutions took the steam out of the game, but late replacement Marco Borriello will be haunted by his open-goal miss with eight minutes remaining.

Sonck looked lively and Buffon was called into action to tip his powerful header onto the bar

And it was hard to see why Sonck didn't start the game when his thunderbolt of a header from a corner move provided some consolation with the last action of the game.

It was a satisfying night for Donadoni and Di Natale has made a strong case for a starting shirt in the Euro 2008 opener against Holland.

Italy: Buffon; Panucci (Grosso 46), Cannavaro (Chiellini 46), Barzagli, Zambrotta; Pirlo, Gattuso, Aquilani (Ambrosini 76); Camoranesi (Cassano 61), Di Natale (The Waterboy 46), Toni (Borriello 76)

Belgium: Stijnen; Hoefkens (Swerts 46), Kompany, Vertonghen, Pocognoli; Witsel (Gillet 70), Mudingayi (Huysegems 85), Simons, Defour (Mirallas 58), Fellaini; Dembele (Sonck 58)

Ref: Atkinson (Eng)

[SuperPippo9]

[Bagg10]

[Messinterista]

[Bagg10]

30/05/2008 23:27

Player Ratings: Italy 3-1 Belgium

Carlo Garganese rates the players on show in tonight’s international friendly at the Stadio Franchi in Florence.

Italy

Buffon: 7.5 – Had little to do for most of the game, but made one simply miraculous save from Sonck. Blameless on the striker’s late consolation.

Panucci: 6.5 – A good outlet down the right, and his crossing was also good. Should have scored though when he headed wide from close range.

Cannavaro: 6.5 – Comfortably dealt with Dembele, producing one text-book tackle, before being subbed at half time.

Barzagli: 6.5 Occasionally lost concentration, especially without Cannavaro on the field, but made on superb late tackle on Mirallas.

Zambrotta: 8.5 – Absolutely outstanding, particularly when he switched to the right. Created the open goal chance for Borriello, had a shot brilliantly saved by Stijnen, and best of all produced two nutmegs in succession during one of his umpteenth runs on the night.

Gattuso: 6.5 – Battled well in the middle of the field, but he wasn’t against the toughest of opposition.

Pirlo: 7 – Really impressed in the early stages, creating Di Natale’s first goal wonderfully. Relaxed in the second half, and wasn’t too keen to over exert himself.

Aquilani: 6.5 – Sound performance from Aquilani, but nothing eye-catching, even if he did create Di Natale’s second goal.

Camoranesi: 7 – Caused problems down the right as always with his flair and dribbling, and took his goal excellently, sliding the ball through the keeper’s legs.

Di Natale: 8.5 – Booked his place in the starting XI for the Holland match with an explosive performance. Caused havoc down the left, scoring twice with two clinical finishes. Subbed at the break or he could have grabbed a hat-trick.

Toni: 6.5 – Not one of his better games, but still held the ball up really well, and was a constant reference point. Went close to scoring twice too.

Subs: Grosso: 6.5, Chiellini: 6, The Waterboy: 7, Cassano: 6.5, Borriello: 5, Ambrosini: 6

Belgium

Stijnen: 7 – Was offered little protection from his defence, but did make one superb save from Zambrotta late on.

Hoefkens: 5 – Struggled against Di Natale in the first half, and was replaced at the break.

Kompany: 6.5 – Did relatively well against Toni, coping better than many centre backs have this season.

Vertonghen: 5.5 – Positioning was suspect at times, but he did make one superb goal-saving challenge on The Waterboy.

Pocognoli: 4.5 – Did okay going forward, but was crucified defensively, particularly by Zambrotta in the second half.

Witsel: 6 – Lots of quantity from Witsel, who was one of Belgium’s better player on the night.

Simons: 5.5 – Showed lots of heart and fight, but he overstepped the mark with some brutal fouls on Cassano.

Defour: 6 – One of Belgium’s brightest talents and he showed glimpses today of what he has to offer.

Fellaini: 5.5 – Another of Belgium’s young hopes but he was largely disappointing. Missed a half chance in the first half, firing into the side netting.

Mudingayi: 6.5 – Stood up to the Italians that he plays against week in week out, and deserved a lot of credit.

Dembele: 6 – Far too isolated to make any kind of impact. Was never offered any support, but he worked tirelessly.

Subs: Swerts: 6, Mirallas: 6.5, Sonck: 7, Gillet: 6, Huysegems N.A

Carlo Garganese

[juventino_italiano]

[Messinterista]

[juventino_italiano]

Gazzetta reports Cannavaro has left the training ground on a stretcher.
In 48 hours we'll get a better idea, but the injury might be serious enough to keep him out of the tournament.
Gamberini or Bonera are being considered as subsittutes....


A huge loss, not only for his technical ability but because he is our captain.
What does this mean for our team?

[Zoff82]

WHOOOOAAAAAA that is not good at all!!! I would call up Legrotaglie after that injury. =) Terrible. Hopefully the guys play for him now. Italy's capitano and best defender down and out. Calciomercato is reporting that he went in for a tackle on Chiellini. They say it will take about 12 hours, not 48 to see the extent of the injury. Barzagli is going to have to step up.

[Zoff82]

Canna is out. Not official but the pictures look bad.

[maro]

Oh shite. That's probably just about that, then.

[Italiamia]

Well that sucks. Jesus, I hope it's not as bad as it looks.

Zambrotta/Panucci---Chiellini----Materazzi-----Grosso/Zambrotta

Panucci can also play center-half if needed. Personally, I think we need Chiellini in there regardless.

[maro]

The biggest problem, as I see it, is that all of the other three CBs - Barzaglia, MM, Chiellini - are almost infinitely better players when they have Canna alongside them - with his ability to read the game, his composure, and his experience. Perhaps we'll see a little more of Panucci in there, though that doesn't really fill me with loads of confidence. Perhaps it's a parallel to the loss of Nesta at the beginning of the WC? Chiellini's the only one I can see who has the cojones to step up when the going gets tough. Let's hope I'm wrong, but this will be a massive, massive blow I fear.

[g.smiley]

Fuck. I had a feeling we'd be dealt an injury card here. I bet it's all Chiellini's fault, that ape. j/k. What a loss my God. He was gonna open it up at the Euros too. He was preparing for another kick as tourney judging from some of the moves he pulled off v. Belgium in the first half. In the second half, without him, the defense started to look a little prone. Not good gentleman, not good.

[g.smiley]

How many penalties will we give up now at the Euros is anybody's guess, but the probability has certainly risen now. MM will cause a penalty at some stage. If he doesn't, i'll bend over backwards and suck my dick through my legs. Chiellini needs to step up now. Without Canna it seems there is a lack of communication. Buffon is gonna have to be even more vocal aswell.

[g.smiley]

Now's when I wish we could send a chopper over to Nesta's house.