The Official Azzurri thread

[morra10]

Wow, I just seen Lippi's full Confederations Cup squad and I can't understand why he continues to call up Quag's and Pepe and ignores Cassano and Pazzini. I really don't know what to think. Obviously, he has no idea what he's doing anymore.

[ricky2882]

Here's a prediction: Italy to lose in the semifinals of the Confed Cup.

[RomaShield27]

Nigel Worthington calls on Northern Ireland young guns to seize chance
• Four debutants to start for Northern Ireland
• Italy to field unfamiliar line-up in friendly in Pisa
– Friday 5 June 2009 16.31 BST

Nigel Worthington has called on his youthful squad to prove they deserve a place in his future plans by impressing against the world champions, Italy. The Northern Ireland coach is to give at least four members of his 18-man squad their senior debuts in tomorrow's friendly match in Pisa and says it is up to them to make a good impression and give him a selection headache for the future.

"For some of the youngsters, this is a great opportunity and a challenge," he said. "Steve Carson and Colin Coates are getting a start and it is great for them and for Irish league players. "When it comes to picking a senior group, you possibly look at 18 to 22 or 23 players and, while there are the mainstays, there are two or three positions where people can work their way into the group."

Worthington praised the more experienced members of his squad for helping the youngsters settle into what, for many, is a new experience in strange surroundings. Their first taste of international football will come against the defending world champions but Worthington is confident they will rise to the occasion, believing he has picked the right blend of youth and experience. And he admits his first impressions have been very positive after leading two training sessions since arriving in Pisa.

"Overall I've been very pleased," he said. "Their attitude has been very good. As always the youngsters have been full of enthusiasm. And the older players: [Grant] McCann, [David] Healy and [Damien] Johnson. Those three's attitude with the youngsters has been absolutely first class and that, from a manager's point of view, is what you are looking for."

While Worthington is set to hand out several first caps tomorrow night, the Italy squad will also be studded with debutants and without many of the household names that their coach, Marcelo Lippi, has preferred to leave out for this final friendly before they fly out to South Africa for the Confederations Cup. This, according to the Northern Ireland coach, serves to "level the playing field", which is why he is not contemplating mounting the barricades and hoping for the best tomorrow night.

"We want to try and get a decent result," he said. "We've set ourselves up in such a manner to certainly keep it tight. We know that the Italians are going to get a fair share of the possession but we have got to be patient, keep our shape, keep our discipline and when we get the ball, we want to go and pass it as well. "We are certainly not thinking on the defeat side. We are looking for a good performance and for these young ones to feel they are in a situation where they are coming through."

Birmingham's Johnson will be leading the team out at the Arena Garibaldi and, even though he will not be walking shoulder to shoulder with Fabio Cannavaro or Gianluigi Buffon, he still has the necessary respect for his opponents. "The teams they play for are all top teams and, although it may not be their usual starting XI, the one they have used in the qualifiers, their guys are going to be like our guys and are going to be eager to impress," he said. "It is going to be a really tough game tomorrow night."

Worthington has confirmed that all 18 members of his squad are fit and available while Chris Casement, Colin Coates, Stephen Carson and Corry Evans will make their debuts from the beginning. However, he could not confirm that all of his substitutes will be used. That, he said, depends on how big a chance his side still has to win the game.

"It is up to them to take the bull by the horns. I would like to give most of them a game if I can but we will have to see how things are. If there is a possibility of getting a good result then we will try to do it and we could stick with the 11 players out there if they are in decent shape."

[Carlo Romano]

[RomaShield27]

SANTON SET FOR ITALY BOW


Italy coach Marcelo Lippi will give young Inter Milan defender Davide Santon his senior international debut against Northern Ireland on Saturday night after admitting to being impressed with him in training. The 18-year-old has made a phenomenal rise from Inter's youth team to become one of their first-team mainstays this season, convincing Lippi to take a closer look at him. And the World Cup-winning coach is more than impressed with what he has seen.

"I had said that he was predestined (to be an international) and now that I have seen him in real life, I can confirm that is exactly how it is," he said. "Santon is only a lad, yet he has a great personality, plays the game easily and has the capacity of fitting in."

Should Santon play at the Arena Garibaldi, he will become the third youngest ever to wear the Azzurri colours, following Renzo de Vecchi, who made his debut as a 16-year-old in 1910, and Giuseppe Bergomi in the modern era. Bergomi made his debut in 1982 as an 18-year-old, when he was less than two months younger than Santon.

Indeed, inexperience prevails in Lippi's side with only two members of his World Cup winning squad due to start, Fabio Grosso and Gennaro Gattuso. Gattuso is making his return after five months out injured and should partner Fiorentina's Riccardo Montolivo at the heart of the Italy midfield. Cagliari's Federico Marchetti is set to make his debut in goal.

Giuseppe Mascara, Giuseppe Rossi and Giampaolo Pazzini are the preferred choices in attack while Sergio Pellissier may therefore have to wait before making his debut. Finally, Nicola Legrottaglie should partner Alessandro Gamberini in the heart of the defence. While one eye will be on this game against Northern Ireland, the other will be on the Republic of Ireland who could leap above Italy at the top of their qualifying group with a victory over Bulgaria.

"If Ireland win, then they go to the top of the group having played one game more than us," said Lippi. "If Bulgaria win, then they are back in the race, but they still have to come to play us at our own home. We will have to wait and see."

The last time Italy lost against Northern Ireland was in 1958, over 51 years ago. They won their last encounter six years ago, with goals from Bernardo Corradi and Marco Delvecchio sealing a 2-0 win in Campobasso in what was also a largely experimental side.

[morra10]

[Bagg10]

[ricky2882]

[ricky2882]

[Carlo Romano]

Lippi's changes are working...Rossi has learned much much quicker than Cassano to channel his temperament into his football. You know what, guys? This Italia is as spectacular as our young 1988 Euros side was!

Give me a side based on youth every time! High energy, and enthusiasm! I'm glad I was wrong to think we wouldn't try too hard tonight. These lads want to show us all they deserve to be selected.

They are our future...with a couple of older heads kept for reassurance, like for when we face stiffer opposition than we did tonight!

[Bagg10]

All three goals were really nice. And Santon is looking like he's going to be a world class player. Btw I didn't like the fact that Pazzini didn't let D'Agostino take the penalty.

[juventino_italiano]

Santon - ??????? - Chiellini - Criscito

OR

Santon - Criscito - Chiellini - De Ceglie


Is this our future back line?
(Santon can play on both left and right...good for options)

[juventino_italiano]

When members of our U21 squad make the jump, we'll see a strong squad with plenty of potential....

Criscito, De Ceglie, Marchisio, Giovinco, Motta, Abate, Cigarini, Balotelli, Acquafresca, Paloschi, Andreolli

Most, if not all, of these players i can guarentee will be on the NT

[Carlo Romano]

[Bagg10]

[ricky2882]

[ricky2882]

[Carlo Romano]

[Bagg10]

[Carlo Romano]

Bagg, I'm taking it to be the above is your choice for the Confed.Cup...

I'll never tire of saying Iaquinta is one of these guys most of us would much rather have with us than against us and his fighting spirit is beyond question. Added to that, he's given Juventus plenty reason to be grateful for having him with his assists even more than his goals. But hell, Lippi will never let him lead our attack, he'll only be a sub if used at all. We'll just have to hope in Gila and Toni!

I also think for now Lippi will prefer Zambro to Santon as a starter. For now...

On the subject of U21's who didn't deliver at senior level...yes, that's so often been the case, more's the pity, but I'm adamant that room must be made for guys like Foggia, Aquafresca, D'Agostino, and probably Pazzini. For me, Pellissier is one for the bench. Handy to have around, he scores plenty, but he can also have us over his misses!