The Official Azzurri thread

[Zoff82]

[Alfio]

[Jamoldo]

[Messinterista]

[Bagg10]

6/14/2008 4:25 PM
Donadoni On Team Rotation
Italy coach Roberto Donadoni talked about the decisions he made for the match against Romania and praised Antonio Cassano.


After the match against Romania, for Italy it's time to think about the next and decisive Group C game against France, which could signal the end of their Euro 2008 campaign or the start of a new phase of the tournament for them.

Coach Roberto Donadoni will likely shuffle his team around once again following the disappointing 1-1 draw against the Romanians. Whereas before that game there was an outcry to let Serie A top scorer Alessandro The Waterboy play, now it seems the Italian people want to see Antonio Cassano, who impressed as a sub in both the Holland and Romania matches, from the start against Les Bleus.

"What's happening right now is normal, it always happens," said Donadoni. "Before everyone wanted to see The Waterboy on the pitch, now they all want Cassano. Antonio is a player I've always taken into consideration and if I've called him up it means I believe in his potential and I know what he can give to the team. In any case, I'll have to see how tomorrow's training goes to decide."

On Antonio Di Natale's exclusion from the Romania game, he said: "He played the entire match against Holland and the fact he didn't play against Romania doesn't mean I don't believe in him anymore. Against Romania I changed five players to have a physically strong, fit team.

"In the first two games I have used 18 players; I hope to be able to use Alessandro Gamberini, Alberto Aquilani, and Marco Borriello in the remainder of the tournament. I saw them doing well in this morning's training session. They looked in shape and this will make me think."

[Italiamia]

[Bagg10]

[Bagg10]

don't forget guys...

[Messinterista]

[Bagg10]

http://it.eurosport.yahoo.com/080613/46/xzbo.html

Is there something wrong with this pic?




nothing wrong with that one though.

[Bagg10]

Michel to referee Italy-France
Sunday 15 June, 2008

The referee assigned to Italy’s showdown with France is Lubos Michel, who also officiated their last meeting in 2007.

The Slovakian 39-year-old will have control of the cards when the two giants go head-to-head on Tuesday evening.

He had also been in charge during the most recent encounter, a 0-0 qualifying draw at San Siro on September 8, 2007.

Michel has a long history with the Italians, having overseen the 1-1 World Cup qualifier in Scotland on September 3, 2005 and a 2-0 friendly win over Russia on February 9, 2005.

He was given the responsibility of officiating the Champions League Final between Chelsea and Manchester United in May.

In terms of Euro 2008, his other game in charge was Turkey’s 2-1 win over Switzerland.

The other tie in Group C, Holland-Romania, has been assigned to Swiss official Massimo Busacca.

[morra10]

Lippi Italy Return A Formality

According to reports in Italy, Marcello Lippi is almost certain to return as coach of the Italy national team, with the Gazzetta dello Sport saying that it is a virtual formality.

Lippi has been on a two year sabbatical since winning the World Cup with the Azzurri in the summer of 2006.

The 60-year-old has stated on numerous occasions that he would be returning to the bench in time for next season, and he has been strongly linked with a return to Italy.

Roberto Donadoni will certainly step down if Italy, as looks likely, are eliminated from Euro 2008 in the group stages.

The Gazzetta says that Lippi is ready to put pen to paper to a blank contract, without discussing wages or other issues, and that the deal is a virtual formality.

He will lead the Azzurri into their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, and will hope to retain the title he won in Germany.

The 60-year-old will bring Ciro Ferrara and Angelo Peruzzi as part of his backroom staff. The latter, who was second choice goalkeeper at the last World Cup would act as a unifying force in the dressing room.

Lippi will also confirm coach Narciso Pezzotti, goalkeeping coach Ivano Bordon, and doctor Enrico Castellacci.


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When I first saw this I thought it was just a rumor to motivate donadoni, but they seem pretty confident that he will return....

[Jamoldo]

Bagg, that's a great avatar.

[Zoff82]

We can beat France all we want but I assure you that Italy will have nothing to play for once the game rolls around. If by some hand of God something goes their way I can also assure you that Don will fuck it up and Italy will lose the match and will forever go down as the biggest loser in Italian history. Trap had a better reputation than Don did. Anyways, not that it negates our WC but if you're gonna go on top I would like it if you stay on top as a great team. It kind of makes the WC look like a fluke much like Greece after their triumph. If you're heavy favorites to win all the time then you got to at least look like you are. Italy have been crap since. Let's hope the Lippi rumors are true. With the way the Juve transfer market is going Ranieri is building a monster team and doesn't seem like there will be a vacancy soon.

[Zoff82]

Maldini Tells Van Basten: Lose & Forget Milan Job
Former Italy coach Cesare Maldini is confident that Holland will not deliberately lose their match against Romania on Tuesday night because if they do so Marco Van Basten can forget any ambitions he has of coaching in Serie A.


Maldini Tells Van Basten: Lose & Forget Milan Job

The Dutch have already qualified for the quarter finals as group winners having thrashed Italy and France 3-0 and 4-1 respectively in their first two games.

Both World Cup finalists must now go for a win in their game, and hope that Holland can do them a favour against Romania.

However there are obvious conspiracy theories that Marco Van Basten’s men may throw the game in order to eliminate France and Italy who are potential semi-final opponents.

Former national team coach Cesare Maldini, who led the Azzurri at the 1998 World Cup today visited the Azzurri training camp, and he believes that Holland will play fair.

“I can guarantee Van Basten and the Dutch's seriousness. I travel the world and I know how they think," said the father of Paolo.

“Against Romania they will play seriously. And I also want to say something else. Van Basten has a two year contract [with Ajax after the Euros] but I know that after he wants to come to coach in Italy.

"Will it be at Milan? We will see. But for sure he will want to arrive in Italy with a clean slate, and he cannot do this by losing to the Romanians on purpose.â€

[Zoff82]

Welsh MP Resigns For Calling Italians 'Greasy Wops'
A leading Conservative Welsh MP has resigned as the party's education spokesman after describing the Italy Euro 2008 team as "greasy wops".

Welsh MP Resigns For Calling Italians 'Greasy Wops'
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Alun Cairns made the inappropriate comments during a weekly political discussion programme on BBC Radio Cymru.

During the programme, Dau o'r Bae, contributors were asked who they would be supporting at Euro 2008. One contributor said she had written a note next to the side of each team at the tournament, describing Sweden as “boringâ€

[Zoff82]

Hai capito Chivu? Ci ha già preparato il biglietto di ritorno: "Manderemo a casa Italia e Francia"
"L'Olanda non regalerà nulla".

Hai capito Chivu? Ci ha già preparato il biglietto di ritorno: "Manderemo a casa Italia e Francia"
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Reduce dai preziosi pareggi contro Francia ed Italia, la Romania, pronosticata all'inizio come la "Cenerentola" del girone, si gioca con la già qualificata Olanda la possibilità di accedere ai quarti di finale.

A due giorni dal match contro gli "Oranje" Chivu mette da parte la scaramanzia e, dal ritiro di San Gallo, si dice fiducioso sul passaggio del turno: "Vogliamo vincere e rimandare a casa Francia e Italia. Partita facile? Ho giocato in Olanda, li conosco bene non giocheranno per perdere".

[Italiamia]

[vtec]

[Italiamia]

You are saying that Lippi 'botched' the world cup final vtec? Can you please explain.