The Official Azzurrini Thread - Italys future stars!

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Reports: Chelsea Set To Poach A Giovinco

According to reports in Italy and England, Chelsea could be close to poaching the younger brother of Sebastian Giovinco from Juventus, before he signs a professional contract with the Bianconeri.

Giovinco Sr, who is regarded as one of the most explosive young talents in the whole of Europe, has been hitting the headlines in recent days with widespread reports suggesting that Arsenal are set to make a January transfer bid for his services.

If the latest speculation is to be believed, it seems as if a Giovinco may indeed end up in the English Premiershit, although not Sebastian but his lesser known younger brother Giuseppe, who is wanted by Chelsea.

Giovinco Jr plays for the Juventus Berretti squad, which consists of players under the age of 19.

The 17-year-old plays in the same creative position as his elder sibling, although he is said to be more physical, and ever so slightly taller.

Chelsea are said to be impressed by Giovinco Jr’s talent, and are looking to poach him from Juventus, before he signs his first professional contract, which he will be able to do when he turns 18 in two weeks time.

"So far I have not received offers,â€

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Reports: Arsenal To Make January Giovinco Bid

With Sebastian Giovinco’s future at Juventus looking far from secure, sections of the English press are tipping Arsenal to make a January transfer bid for the starlet.

Giovinco is regarded as one of Europe’s most explosive young talents, but his future at Juventus could be in limbo as he has been in a contract dispute with the club all summer.

The 21-year-old is demanding an increase in salary to €1m a year but so far the club’s management is refusing to meet his demands.

Yesterday Giovinco appeared to express his frustration at this situation when he stated: “My renewal with Juventus is not a priority and to be honest I couldn’t care less whether the contract is renewed or not.â€

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U-21: Azzurrini draw Israel
http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_ ... ep12i.html – Friday 12 September, 2008

Pierluigi Casiraghi's Azzurrini side have drawn Israel in the play-offs for the Under-21 European Championship. Italy's youngsters secured their place in the play-offs by holding off Croatia to win qualification Group 1 and are now hoping to build on the nation's excellent record in the tournament.

The Azzurrini have won the competition more times than any other side and now must negotiate Israel in a two-legged tie to have the chance to do so again. The first leg will be in Italy on the 11th or 12th of October and the second leg will the following mid-week.

Meanwhile, Germany face France in a heavyweight contest and England take on Wales in a British battle.

Under-21 European Championship 2009 play-off draw:
Germany v France
Denmark v Serbia
Turkey v Belarus
Austria v Finland
Wales v England
Italy v Israel
Switzerland v Spain

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the senior side is decent. what about the their u-21 team. any1 have a clue?

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U-21: Casiraghi picks Israel 23
http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_ ... oct3g.html – Friday 3 October, 2008

Pierluigi Casiraghi has selected his Under-21 squad to face Israel in a European Championship qualification play-off. Italy's youngsters topped Group 1 and are now just 180 minutes away from booking their place in Sweden next summer.

But standing in their way are a dangerous Israel side that finished second to Germany in Group 9, and are something of an unknown entity. There are no real surprises in Casiraghi's 23-man squad, which again includes Inter's Mario Balotelli.

Italy Under-21 squad:
Goalkeepers: Consigli (Atalanta), Seculin (Fiorentina), Sirigu (Ancona)

Defenders: Andreolli (Sassuolo), Bocchetti (Genoa), Criscito (Genoa), De Ceglie (Juventus), De Silvestri (Lazio), Marzoratti (Empoli), Motta (Udinese), Pisano (Cagliari)

Midfielders: Bolzoni (Inter), Candreva (Livorno), Cigarini (Atalanta), Dessena (Sampdoria), Giovinco (Juventus), Marchisio (Juventus), Morosini (Vicenza), Abate (Torino)

Strikers: Acquafresca (Cagliari), Balotelli (Inter), Lanzafame (Palermo), Osvaldo (Fiorentina)

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De Ceglie adds to Under-21 woes

Italy’s Under-21 clash with Israel is fraught with problems, as after Mario Balotelli came down with a virus, Paolo De Ceglie sprained his ankle.

The Juventus defender pulled up during training this evening with a suspected sprain to his right ankle.

The Azzurrini medical staff are not yet certain whether he will be able to recover in time for the match, which kicks off at 15.00 UK time on Saturday.

It is another blow for Coach Pierluigi Casiraghi in his bid to go through this play-off for the 2009 European Under-21 Championship.

Inter striker Balotelli has already pulled out after coming down with a flu virus, while Giuseppe Rossi and Fabiano Santacroce have been promoted to the senior side for the first time.

Source: http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_ ... ct10n.html

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Casiraghi handed Balotelli blow

Pierluigi Casiraghi faces a striking crisis ahead of tomorrow's European Championship qualification play-off against Israel.

The Italian Under-21 side need to overcome Israel over two legs to book their place in next summer's event in Sweden.

But their chances have been hit by Giuseppe Rossi and Fabiano Santacroce being called into the senior side.

And now Casiraghi seems to have lost another key man in Inter striking sensation Mario Balotelli.

The teenage ace has been struck down with a virus and looks likely to be replaced by Cagliari star Robert Acquafresca.

“I am always proud to play for the national side,â€

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U-21: Israel lock out Azzurrini
http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_ ... ct11k.html – Saturday 11 October, 2008

A sluggish Italy stalled 0-0 with Israel in the Under-21 Euro play-off and lost Sebastian Giovinco, Claudio Marchisio and Daniele Dessena for the second leg. The first leg of the battle to reach the Under-21 European Championship was played at the Stadio Del Conero in Ancona. The Azzurrini were without Paolo De Ceglie and Mario Balotelli, the Inter striker suffering from a flu virus, while Giuseppe Rossi and Fabiano Santacroce were poached by the senior squad.

Italy got off to a strong start as Claudio Marchisio's volley from the edge of the box almost caught Levita by surprise, while Roash had to stop Daniel Pablo Osvaldo from turning in Robert Acquafresca's cross.

On 10 minutes Sebastian Giovinco's swerving right-foot strike from 25 metres skimmed the far post. Acquafresca nodded a free kick to the back post and Marco Motta came flying in, but his header was over from a yard and he came under pressure from the Israeli goalkeeper.

Cohen's well-timed intervention was all that prevented Juventus starlet Giovinco from completing a counter-attack, though Consigli smothered a Cohen attempt from distance and Natcho's free kick was well over. Daniele Dessena went into the book to halt a counter and will be suspended for the second leg in Tel Aviv.

There was a heavy blow for Italy when Marco Andreolli got an accidental elbow in the face from Abihazira and had to be immediately substituted, as he was bleeding heavily from a cut over his eye. Genoa defender Salvatore Bocchetti came on in his place.

On the stroke of half-time Giovinco was also booked for dissent and picked up a ban for the second leg. He tried to make up for it after the restart, as he went on a mazy run and was tripped by Kende for a free kick just outside the box. The Atomic Ant stepped up a curled wide of the near post.

Giovinco created another good chance that Marchisio half-volleyed over the bar, then Osvaldo's volley from a long Marchisio ball over his shoulder was off target in what would've been a classic goal.

Pierluigi Casiraghi made his first substitution on the hour mark, introducing Ignazio Abate for Acquafresca and Piermario Morosini in place of Dessena.

Consigli captured a Refaelov set piece, though a crucial Gan intervention prevented Osvaldo rolling across to the totally unmarked Giovinco from nine yards.

There was controversy on 70 minutes when Giovinco tried to turn between three defenders at the byline, but the referee waved away penalty appeals for a possible trip. Israeli defenders charged down two Morosini shots in the box and Osvaldo's header into the ground went wide, as Italy finally turned up the pressure.

Giovinco was Italy's most dangerous player and curled a free kick over from 25 metres, but there was a great chance on 85 minutes. Abate threaded through for Osvaldo and the finish squirmed under the goalkeeper's body, but Levita managed to recover the loose ball before it crossed the line.

The Azzurrini further shot themselves in the foot during the final stages, as a foolish Marchisio tackle in midfield prompted a yellow card and another ban. Domenico Criscito kept pushing and hit the side-netting after some good build-up down the left flank.

In stoppages Giovinco again wanted a spot-kick, as he nutmegged one defender and may have had his cross charged down by an arm, but Chekol was too close for it to be considered voluntary.

It will all go down to the second leg in Tel Aviv on October 15.

Italy 0-0 Israel
Italy U-21: Consigli; Motta, Andreolli (Bocchetti 42), Criscito, Pisano; Dessena (Morosini 65), Cigarini, Marchisio; Osvaldo, Giovinco; Acquafresca (Abate 62)
Israel U-21: Levita; Kende, Roash, Gan, Chekol; Asulin (Peretz 81), Cohen, Yelny, Natcho (Refaelov 58), Avidor (Ben Chaim 55); Abihazira
Ref: Pereira Gomes (Por)


Pressure piles on Casiraghi
http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_ ... ct11m.html – Saturday 11 October, 2008

The pressure is on Pierluigi Casiraghi as Italy's Under-21 European Championship hopes hang in the balance.

“We had a decent game. Not great, but we created some chances and didn't put them in the back of the net,â€

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U-21: Super Mario secures Euro spot
http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_ ... ct15q.html – Wednesday 15 October, 2008

Mario Balotelli's brace and Ignazio Abate sent Italy through to the European Under-21 Championships with a 3-1 win away to Israel. Pierluigi Casiraghi knew he would be sacked if the Azzurrini failed to qualify for the European Under-21 Championships and everything hung in the balance following the 0-0 first leg draw with Israel.

Sebastian Giovinco, Claudio Marchisio and Daniele Dessena were suspended, Marco Andreolli injured and Giuseppe Rossi and Fabiano Santacroce poached by the senior squad. Casiraghi made wholesale changes, the most important being the return to Balotelli, who missed Saturday's game with a flu virus.

It didn't take long for the Inter starlet to make a difference, as four minutes in he gave Italy an away goal with one of his trademark bullet free kicks that screamed its way under the crossbar.

The Azzurrini had a blazing start and could easily have had more goals, but Palermo striker Davide Lanzafame incredibly missed the target with his header from point-blank range on Ignazio Abate's cross from the right. Torino winger Abate had a great chance when he won two tackles to spark a counter, but his cross was too far for Lanzafame.

Balotelli came to the rescue again with a second goal in the opening 25 minutes. He trapped a long ball, turned and unleashed a powerful right-foot snapshot into the near bottom corner from just outside the box.

Israel tried to fight back, as Consigli palmed a deflected Rafaelov cross out from under the bar and Tamuz turned a header wide.

Lanzafame continued to miss incredible opportunities in the second half. Mere moments after the restart he managed to nod on to the upright of an open goal from Balotelli's inspired cross. Morosini flashed a long-range effort just over, but Israel got back into it from the spot. Consigli was unlucky, as he parried the Toto Tamuz penalty, but could do nothing on the follow-up.

The momentum was now with Israel, especially after Balotelli made way for Daniel Pablo Osvaldo, and there were shivers as a dangerous free kick flashed across the face of goal.

However, that all-out approach from the home side inevitably left space at the other end and Italy struck with a classic counter-attack. An Israeli corner was turned into a pass for Abate in the centre-circle and he kept his cool to run straight at the goalkeeper and place his finish in off the inside of the upright.

This result means Italy qualify for the European Under-21 Championship, which will be held in Sweden in June 2009.

Israel 1-3 Italy (1-3 on agg)
Scorers: Balotelli 4, 25 (It), Tamuz 55 (Is), Abate 75
Missed penalty: Tamuz 55 (Is)

Israel U-21: Levita; Kende, Gan, Roash, Chekol; Rafaelov (Ben Chaim 46), Cohen, Assulin, Yeini (Natcho 58), Abihazira (Avidor 46); Tamuz

Italy U-21: Consigli; Motta, Marzoratti, Criscito, De Ceglie; Morosini, Cigarini, Candreva (Bolzoni 60); Abate, Lanzafame (Pisano 89); Balotelli (Osvaldo 66)
Ref: Chapron (Fra)

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