The Official Azzurri thread

[ponte]

[Bagg10]

[Carlo Romano]

Morra, you're right about the collar...

My personal faves are more for the significance of the team and certain players at a particular time rather than just the the appearance of the shirt though if I chose on that basis alone I'd go for the Italia shirt from 1986-1990.


Baggio and Schillaci after the "Battle of Rome" at Italia '90, the 2-1 defeat of Czechoslovakia(as was) when Baggio scored the goal of the tournament during what was the 3'rd group match which gave our Azzurri the full 9 points from the group stages and allowed them to remain based in Rome!




Obviously Paolo Rossi's No.20 shirt from 1982 has a special place in my heart but I was angry to see this...

E-Bay's current fake Paolo Rossi 1982 shirt...



Football shirts didn't have the player's name on the back in those days...

[p_maldini_3]

who's pants didn't madonna try to get into?

[RomaShield27]

No Brazil for The Waterboy
Saturday 7 February, 2009 – http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_ ... feb7k.html

Marcello Lippi has left Alessandro The Waterboy and Antonio Cassano out of Italy’s friendly with Brazil, but included Giuseppe Rossi and Vincenzo Iaquinta. The Coach named his squad list for Tuesday’s friendly match at the Emirates Stadium in London, but there was again no room for the Juventus captain or Sampdoria star. Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo, Alberto Aquilani, Gianluca Zambrotta and Antonio Di Natale return from injury spells. There are no significant novelties in the squad, as Rossi has now permanently made the step up from Under-21 to senior level. Despite Udinese’s crisis, Simone Pepe, Fabio Quagliarella and Di Natale remain in the side along with Vincenzo Iaquinta, who can barely get a game at Juve. Giorgio Chiellini is out injured, but Bianconeri teammate Nicola Legrottaglie is included.

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Amelia (Palermo), De Sanctis (Galatasaray).

Defenders: Bonera (Milan), Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Dossena (Liverfekkin'wankscum), Gamberini (Fiorentina), Grosso (Olympique Lyon), Legrottaglie (Juventus), Zambrotta (Milan).

Midfielders: Aquilani (Roma), Camoranesi (Juventus), De Rossi (Roma), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Pepe (Udinese), Perrotta (Roma), Pirlo (Milan).

Forwards: Di Natale (Udinese), Gilardino (Fiorentina), Iaquinta (Juventus), Quagliarella (Udinese), Rossi (Villarreal), Toni (Bayern Munich).

What the hell sort of squad is this? I'm sorry to say this, because the man has been a great coach for Italy in the past, for I think Lippi may have finally lost his marbles. I have some serious questions about this squad.

1) De Sanctis as the third choice 'keeper? Ok, he's not likely to even get the slightest sniff of action, but De Santis is past it, and why not include Curci, who is having a fine season with Siena? Or even Abbiati, who has been playing well, or Marchetti, Iezzo?

2) Dossena? That is the biggest fecking joke of the lot. I mean does Lippi even watch any of these players play, or know that some of them aren't playing any football at all? Dossena has been a sub for the 'Scum and doesn't even make the bench for them on some occasions.

3) Bonera? How much has he played this season? Where the hell is Santacroce?

4) Camoranesi? He's clearly a Lippi favourite but the man hasn't played in months, what could he possibly offer for this friendly? He clearly still has a lot to offer but shouldn't be in this squad now.

5) Then there's the Cassano saga, which is becoming ridiculous. It is abundantly clear that he deserves a call up, everyone in Italy except for Lippi can see that. He may still be a bit of a headcase and have disciplinary problems, but so what? Italy need his talent.

5) Where the fuck is Matteo Brighi...? Does Lippi watch any fuckin football at all? What exactly has Aquilani done better than Brighi lately? Its perplexing.

6) Iaquinta? How many starts has he made this season?

The bottom line is Lippi is afraid of youth, and afraid of change. He did say midweek he won't be selecting an experimental squad for Brazil, but no one is asking for radical changes, just select players on form, regardless of age or reputation.

Aside from Cassano, even The Waterboy probably deserves a call. And then what about promising young players like Santacroce, De Ceglie, Criscito, Motta, or players on form like Brighi or Floccari? Its as if Lippi didn't put any thought into this at all and just found one of his old teamsheets, made a few little x's and adjustments and just ran with that.

[Bagg10]

In Lippi we trust.

[RomaShield27]

Stop spamming Bagg.

[Messinterista]

[p_maldini_3]

[ricky2882]

Lippi has started to play a 4-3-3, ironically continuing the formation of his predecessor. That explains Di Natale, Pepe, Quagliarella and Rossi, and the absence of The Waterboy. Iaquinta can also be useful on the wing, while also a good target-man. I agree with you though, Shield. Lippi, like most Azzurri managers, is afraid of youth. He thinks he's playing it safe, but I predict he's going to flop as badly, if not worse, as Donadoni. I cannot believe he's making the Don's mistakes.

We'll see. After all it is Lippi.

[Bagg10]

Did you guys forget who the fuck this guy is? WORLD CUP WINNING coach. Sure there are players in Serie A who on form are doing better. I.e. Floccari, C. Doni, Brighi, Manfredini, Ferrari, Di Vaio and even Molinaro are all playing well. But Lippi has a system in mind, and is looking for certain characteristics in these players. In the midfield, you can see that Lippi considers Aquilani as a De Rossi sub, that can also replace Gattuso, and Montolivo is Pirlo's sub. Up top you have a target men like Toni and Gila who strictly play that one position. You have your wingers, Cammo, Di Natale Quags, and Rossi. Then you have utility players like Perotta, Pepe, and Iaquinta who can play a couple different position.

The only problems I have is with the defense. Bonera is nowhere near international level, and Dossena barely plays for Liverfekkin'wankscum. I also think that Sereni or Abiatti deserve to be third keeper, but it doesn't really matter.

[ricky2882]

[Bagg10]

[p_maldini_3]

[Bagg10]

[p_maldini_3]

[Bagg10]

[Bagg10]

[Zoff82]

[Bagg10]