The Official Azzurri thread

[ponte]

[p_maldini_3]

we lack any true wide midfielders, especially left sided ones. thats why we're not playing the 4-4-2.

[Bagg10]

We don't lack them, Lippi is just not calling them up. Rosina, Giovinco, Foggia and Mauri are all left sided players. And even Montolivo can play LM. Lippi just doesn't want to play 4-4-2. He never has.

[p_maldini_3]

[stefano]

[Bagg10]

[Zoff82]

[Carlo Romano]

Bagg, I might just be willing to go along with your point of classing this friendly as meaningless under present circs, despite Falcao's description of tonight's game as being an exhibition match, the biggest international derby match in the world...if I hadn't done as many other Italians also had to, sit and endure live, the 4-1 defeat to Pelé's Brasil in Mexico 1970.

I'll never forget that as long as I live and though I watched Paolo Rossi give us our revenge in 1982 with his magnificent tripletta, for me, no match against Brasil is meaningless...and for the record I felt the 0-1 home defeat by Brasil in the 1989 friendly just as badly. What really rubbed salt in the wound that evening was the virtually anonymous guy who came on as as a late sub for the Seleçao and scored with a free kick, only to vanish into the same obscurity he came from after that match!

Carlos Dunga says Brasil always want to win.

So frankly, I hope we flatten the bastards, although a pre-arranged draw wouldn't surprise me!

[Bagg10]

Calro, there used to be a time when teams would play for bragging rights in these games, but those times are pretty much gone. I mean sure, the players tomorrow are going to play to win. But do you think De Rossi, Iaquinta, Cannavaro, Legrottaglie, Toni, etc... are going to risk going into every challenge? The club aspect of football has taken over international pride (except of course the world cup and euro cup). These players (and their respective clubs) can't afford to get injured. That along with the fact that Lippi has left some key players at home, makes this game a meaningless friendly. Don't get me wrong, tactically the game played on the field will tell us a lot. But the final result of this game will mean absolutely nothing. I'd personally like us to lose 2-1. Knowing the Italian mentality they will hype up our WC 2010 chances, which will do us absolutely no good. I'd rather let another team take the 'favorites' label.

[RomaShield27]

Good preview:

http://www.mcalcio.com/brazil-vs-italy- ... the-world/

[maro]

[juventino_italiano]

[maro]

Well, Italy may be training them, but now it's time to school them.

[juventino_italiano]

[RomaShield27]

[RomaShield27]

Rossi in, Gamberini out
Tuesday 10 February, 2009 – http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_ ... eb10j.html

Giuseppe Rossi is set to feature in Italy's attacking trident this evening, but defender Alessandro Gamberini could miss out on a seat on the bench. The Azzurri take on Brazil in a high profile friendly at the Emirates Stadium - the home of Arsenal.

Marcello Lippi's men have been training at Queens Park Rangers' ground this afternoon ahead of the evening's entertainment. The latest reports from journalists watching Lippi's session suggest that Villarreal hitman Rossi is set to start alongside Mauro Camoranesi and Luca Toni with Simone Pepe and Alberto Gilardino starting on the bench. Gamberini may not even get a substitute's place as he is suffering from a muscular complaint and had to sit out training.

“The game against Brazil will allow me to see how the new men are growing,â€

[Bagg10]

Camoranesi should not be starting.

[p_maldini_3]

i would guess that perotta might be tucked in on the left for grosso to push forward?

[maro]

The other way round, I suspect, mouldy-knee - DDR will tuck in more with Grosso getting beyond him, while Simone would be expected to get up and down a bit more down the right and through the middle.

[maro]

Or were you thinking some kind of 4-4-2? I'm pretty sure it'll be a 4-3-3 with Rossi and Mauro being asked to give the width higher up the pitch and Simone getting up and down close to Toni.