The Official Azzurri thread

[Bagg10]

I think we should hold off judgment until we play some qualifiers towards to the middle and end of the Serie A season, when players are fit.

[RomaShield27]

Lippi to ring the changes
http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_ ... sep9h.html – Tuesday 9 September, 2008

Marcello Lippi has indicated that he will shuffle the deck for Italy's World Cup 2010 qualifier against Georgia tomorrow. The world champions struggled to beat Cyprus 2-1 in their first Group 8 game and lost Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Gamberini to injury.

Lippi will demand better from his men against Hector Cuper's Georgia in Udine tomorrow and he has given some advance warning on team selection.

“I will definitely make some changes compared to the side that played in Larnaca,â€

[Bagg10]

[Carlo Romano]

It's all already been said on the Shoutbox, but I for one wont argue with Don Marcello's statement before the Georgia game that getting the 3 points was the priority, not making beautiful football.

I tend to agree with Bagg and others that we'll see a difference once we are more into our season.

[RomaShield27]

Materazzi to miss World Cup qualifier
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com – Thursday October 2, 2008 11:20 AM

MILAN, Italy (AP) -Italy defender Marco Materazzi will miss World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Montenegro this month after injuring his right thigh with Inter Milan.

Materazzi will be out for about 20 days, having hobbled off 19 minutes into Inter's 1-1 draw with Werder Bremen in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Tests on Thursday revealed a muscle tear.

Italy visits Bulgaria on Oct. 11 and hosts Montenegro four days later. Materazzi could return for Inter against Anorthosis Famagusta in the Champions League on Oct. 22, or against Genoa four days later in Serie A.

[JuveGER]

[Bagg10]

[quote]Thursday 2 October, 2008



Fabrizio Miccoli last played for Italy four years ago, but Antonio Labbate believes it may be time for an international recall
When Marcello Lippi names his latest Italy squad on Sunday for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers, the name of Fabrizio Miccoli may or may not appear. Yet what is for certain is that for the first time in a significant period, the striker is at the very least in contention for a place in the party which will take on firstly Bulgaria and then Montenegro.

The Palermo bomber has enjoyed a scintillating start to the season. With four goals in four games, he’s the new darling of the Barbera faithful who were forced to inevitably say goodbye to Amauri over the summer. But while the Brazilian waits for his Italian passport, Fabrizio already has his paperwork in order.

Capped on 10 occasions for La Nazionale in the past, Miccoli last played for his country in November 2004. With Lippi at the helm, who also bossed the Lecce native at Juventus, the then Fiorentina forwarded secured his second goal for the Azzurri in a 1-0 friendly win over Finland.

“I’m at Lippi’s disposal,â€

[RomaShield27]

Why the fuck would Miccoli get a call up when Cassano can't even get into Lippi's squad?

[Bagg10]

Miccoli has been scoring more...
Not to mention, he's less of a headcase.

[juventino_italiano]

[Messinterista]

[Bagg10]

[Messinterista]

has never really proved him self on the big stage.

[RomaShield27]

Lippi to give trio debuts?
http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_ ... oct4g.html – Saturday 4 October, 2008

Marcello Lippi may be bring in three new faces against Bulgaria and Montenegro, including Christian Maggio and Giuseppe Rossi. The Italy Coach has been reticent to make many changes from the side that won the 2006 World Cup, dropping the likes of Antonio Cassano from the Roberto Donadoni era.

With current injuries and lack of form, Lippi may be forced to make a few adjustments to that policy for the upcoming 2010 World Cup qualifiers. He had been adamant that Maggio would not be included despite his strong performances for Sampdoria throughout all of last season, but his record at Napoli too has apparently convinced Lippi to give him a shot.

Another new face could be Gaetano D’Agostino, who is one of the key figures behind Udinese’s surge up the standings and into the UEFA Cup group phase. The Roma youth product was meant to be the ‘new Francesco Totti’, but at the Friuli has been transformed into a very effective deep-lying playmaker. With Andrea Pirlo out injured for a couple of months, D’Agostino could be the closest thing to a replacement.

Lippi’s third rumoured newcomer is less of a surprise, as Rossi has been hovering around the fringes of the senior squad for some time. The ex-Parma and Manchester United starlet has long been waiting for the step up from Under-21 level and he would probably have already made it were it not for an injury that kept him out for two months. Rossi is back in action for Villarreal and likely to be included in the Italy side, which Lippi will announce on Sunday evening.

The Azzurri travel to Sofia for the clash with Bulgaria on October 11 and then welcome Montenegro to Lecce’s Stadio Via del Mare on October 15. These are crunch ties for the World Cup holders, who may have notched up two opening wins against Cyprus and Georgia, but the performances were far from impressive.

[Bagg10]

[Messinterista]

[Bagg10]

[Bagg10]

[Zoff82]

Look like Lippi has been reading this board. He has called up all the players you guys have mentioned. I doubt any of them will play. If Nocerino gets 30 seconds Lippi should be fired. This guy gives the ball up too often vs a Serie B team.

[Bagg10]