The Official Azzurri thread

[juventino_italiano]

[juventino_italiano]

[marco]

[Bagg10]

[Messinterista]

Oddo Gives Up Hope On Italy Call-Up

Lippi seems to have forgotten all about Oddo lately as he has failed to call him up following his re-appointment as coach of the Azzurri.

Bayern Munich defender Massimo Oddo believes that his chances of ever playing for the Italian national team are practically null, even though he still hopes that coach Marcello Lippi will change his mind.

So far Oddo has played 34 games for the Azzurri, scoring one goal in the process and being part of the squad that won the world cup in 2006.

"I don't think that I'm part of Lippi's plans," admitted the former Lazio and Milan player to Sky.

"It would have pleased me to receive a phone call, as I was one of the group who won the World Cup. I think that many who stayed out received a phone call. I did not receive it, but I did not cry.

"A disappointment for me was that of missing out on the European Championships because I had played in all of the qualifiers and in the end I stayed out because of an injury."

The 32-year-old full-back joined Bayern Munich from Milan this past summer and has been a regular player in the German team.

Source: http://www.goal.com/en/news/592/bayern- ... ly-call-up

[juventino_italiano]

Totti??? Oh Boy!

[RomaShield27]

FAI worry as Italians consider Naples
www.Independent.ie – by Daniel McDonnell – Tuesday December 23 2008

NAPLES has emerged as the new favourite venue to host the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifier with Italy on April 1 -- but there are concerns within the FAI about the troubled reputation of the city after a number of crowd disturbances there in recent months.

The Italian FA have until January 5 to inform FIFA of where the game will take place. Many Irish fans have already made plans to travel to Rome, which was the original intended venue.

Reports in Italy, however, suggest that Naples has moved to the top of the pile with the 60,000 capacity San Paolo stadium being visited by officials in recent days. The Azzurri have not played there since the Euro 2008 qualifier success over Lithuania two years ago.

Napoli have suffered from a number of off-the-field difficulties in recent months, starting when they were punished after their fans caused £300,000 worth of damage to two trains on their trip to Rome at the beginning of the season.

They were fined €10,000 and ordered to close two parts of their stands for four league games. Meanwhile, Italy's interior ministry has banned Napoli fans from travelling to away matches for the rest of the campaign. Florence, Genoa and Milan had also been floated as possible alternatives.


The latest reports are saying that Italy's WC qualifier against Ireland next April is going to be held in the San Paulo, but I don't get why the fuck the FAI would consider this as bad for Ireland because of the "reputation" of the Napoli fans. Yeah, they are a bit backward and in a world of they're own in Naples and the Napoli fans have caused minor troubles traveling to away games, but how the feck should that effect Irish fans traveling there for an International game with Italy? There should be no cause for concern, its an away game and whether its in Rome or Milan or Naples it shouldn't make any difference.

[Carlo Romano]

Amauri's latest outburst in the press that he might not accept a call-up from either Brasil or Italy and be content to just play for Juventus suits me perfectly...if I believed him!

While never denying he is a useful player I have no time for mercenaries, particularly a man with Amauri's attitude. I hope Lippi and Dunga read his nonsense and give him his alleged wish...

Shield, as an Irishman you must be hoping the stadio San Paolo is the chosen venue! History shows us that gli Azzurri have a number of unhappy memories of matches played there...I'll never forget watching Roby Baggio trudge off, dejected after losing to Argentina!

[red]

I thought the Italy v Ireland game had already been confirmed as being played in Bari.


Edit: not confirmed, but like to be Bari. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 807137.stm

[RomaShield27]

Likely to be Bari, yes. This article below explains it well. It says Rome was ruled out as a possible venue because Michelle Platini expressed his concerns about the possibility of "incidents" at the Olimpico, just weeks before the Champions League final. This is ridiculous because there is no risk of fecking "incidents" between Italian and Irish fans. It may turn out to be a crucial fixture but we're hardly going over there to fight with them in the streets. We are not fucking English, like.

With Rome ruled out, there then ensued a battle between the two team managers with Italy's Marcello Lippi keen to play the game in Florence and Trapattoni instead preferring the San Siro in Milan. It seems that the Ireland manager was particularly opposed to Florence since, as a former Fiorentina coach, he anticipated a hot reception from the oft-times rowdy Florentine fans. With Trapattoni opposed to Florence and Lippi not keen to play in Milan, the choice then switched to the San Paolo in Naples.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/spo ... 49603.html

Also, a good article from Paddy Agnew about travelling to Bari:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/spo ... 49638.html

[juventino_italiano]

[Zoff82]

[ponte]

[p_maldini_3]

inzaghi.

although im pretty sure vieri and inzaghi share.

[ricky2882]

[marco]

[Messinterista]

o wat a shame...

[RomaShield27]

Abete would welcome Amauri
Monday 12 January, 2009 – http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_ ... an12h.html

The President of the Italian FA, Giancarlo Abete, would have no problem with Amauri playing for the Azzurri if he receives an Italian passport. The Juventus striker of Brazilian descent has applied for Italian citizenship on the grounds that his wife Cynthia Cosini Valaderes is Italian. However, Rome based daily Il Messagero last week reported that Cynthia has so far been unable to prove she has been an Italian resident for 10 years.

“Firstly the wife has to clarify her position as an Italian citizen,â€

[Bagg10]

[RomaShield27]

Lippi: Totti Return? My Decision, Not His
www.Goal.com –14/01/2009 13:01

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has given Roma captain Francesco Totti a warning over his ambition to return to international duty by insisting the final decision rests with him only. Er Pupone stunned the Calcio world last month when he revealed considering a return to the Giro Azzurro after his retirement from international duty in 2006. Two years ago, Totti vowed he would never return to the Italian national side, and this could still be the case after Lippi's tough words.

"Francesco Totti's will to return to the national team is a sign of seriousness, but it's clear that I am the one who decides in the end," Lippi told Il Corriere Dello Sport. "I have read and heard his recent comments about coming back. However, when he decided to leave, everyone respected his decision, including myself. That was his decision, now I decide the rest."

Reports earlier today suggested Lazio's Cristian Ledesma could be called up to the the squad as he has an Italian passport. It seems unlikely though as Lippi insists he has enough good, home-grown players already.

"There are plenty of Italian players who are of great value. Lets not look for players who have two passports," concluded the coach. Italy clash with Brazil on February 10th in an international friendly game at the Emirates Stadium in London, and the coach is currently looking around for possible new call ups.