The Official Azzurri thread

[tonykart]

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[tonykart]

[RomaShield27]

LIPPI EYEING FRIENDLY WIN


Italy coach Marcello Lippi believes a win in Wednesday's friendly against New Zealand in Pretoria would give the world champions the perfect platform for their Confederations Cup adventure. The Azzurri will take on Brazil, CONCACAF Gold Cup winners the United States and African Nations Cup champions Egypt in Group B.

"We expect to play great games in South Africa," said Lippi. "We want to grow as a team and as a group. One of the most important things will be to consolidate our strong points and take advantage of all the opportunities we will have to grow and improve as much as possible."

The Azzurri go into Wednesday's encounter on the back of Saturday's 3-0 triumph over Northern Ireland, where Lippi fielded an experimental side. Eleven of the players in the group in South Africa were not in Italy's Euro 2008 squad, including Liverfekkin'wankscum left-back Andrea Dossena.

"I think our matches in South Africa will serve to evaluate the growth of this group after one year's work," said Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro. "We know we will face great teams but we want to go all the way."

Starting on the right foot with be key for Italy, according to Lippi. "The first match is always the most important one because it is the first," he said.

The Azzurri have one week to acclimatise to the conditions before making their debut against the United States in Pretoria. "The only setback has been the weather," said Lippi. "It's freezing cold but no-one can do anything about that. We can only hope that it improves."

Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi and Cannavaro trained separately from the team with minor knocks and are set to rest, but AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso, who was sidelined for most of the season with a knee injury, is expected to play against New Zealand.

Wednesday's showdown will provide Ricki Herbert's side with a unique opportunity to test their credentials. New Zealand will compete in their third Confederations Cup looking to collect their first ever points in the tournament. The minnows of Oceania were drawn in Group A with Spain, Iraq and hosts South Africa.

[Carlo Romano]

[tonykart]

Giovinco and Rossi will be great behind Balotelli or Acquafresca.

[RomaShield27]

Thats disgusting, TK. Please keep your dirty threesome fantasies to yourself.

[tonykart]

[RomaShield27]

I'm just filling in for Maro considering he's avoiding this thread like the plague because he knows New Zealand are going to get hockied by Italy in the friendly tonight. Them Kiwi sheep-shaggers have no chance, in fact I'd say they are the worst team in the world.

[tonykart]

[Carlo Romano]

I don't know what they get up to in New Zealand...playing with steel balls, sheep or what!

I do know their soccer team forced us to buck up our ideas last night and excited though we were over our new faces on Saturday, it took our experienced "old guard" to pull last night's game around in the Southern Hemisphere winter conditions!

One other thing...those who don't know are going to get their eyes opened as regards Sth African life during this tournament and next year's World Cup. Seeing our Azzurri's training camp on Johannesburg's outskirts with its electrified fences and security guards came as no surprise to me.

[Zoff82]

[Carlo Romano]

Dino, in this case, burglary is the most likely worry.

But don't take any one person's word...read up on Sth Africa!


http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/ ... uth_Africa

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007 ... 984910.htm

[RomaShield27]

Azzurri Analysis - Italy 4-3 New Zealand - Kiwis provide food for thought
– By Chris Davies

Italy warmed up for their Confederations Cup campaign with an amazing 4-3 win over fellow tournament participants, New Zealand in Pretoria on Wednesday evening. The game was far from plain sailing for Marcello Lippi’s world champions, with the Azzurri having to recover from a goal down on three separate occasions during the match to eventually come away with the win. Hardly the stuff of champions or the ideal build-up for a prestigious tournament you may well remark.

Nevertheless, a win is a win in international football and Lippi admitted after the match that although the team lining up against the Kiwis would not be the one to start against the United States next Monday, he felt the match had proven useful: “ It was a training session and this is what we needed tonight, which is why I left out most of the veterans.â€

[maro]

At least we showed the cowardly Irish how they should have played against the Azzurri. Balls of steel, those Kiwi boys have. And judging by the first touch of some them that's presumably what they're used to practising with too.

[tonykart]

[RomaShield27]

Aching Cannavaro missing from Italy's lineup
– June 12, 2009, 1:30 PM

ATTERIDGEVILLE, South Africa (AP) - Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro sat out with a right calf problem when coach Marcello Lippi tested his starting lineup for the Confederations Cup in a training game Friday against a local club. Juventus defender Nicola Legrottaglie started instead alongside Giorgio Chiellini in central defense against Tshwane XI, while Alessandro Gamberini was tested in the second half with Chiellini.

Italy won 6-0 with two goals from Alberto Gilardino and one each from Andrea Pirlo, Luca Toni, Vincenzo Iaquinta and Fabio Quagliarella. The World Cup holders open the Confederations Cup against the United States on Monday.

Cannavaro also sat out a 4-3 win over New Zealand in a friendly Wednesday, and he missed the entire European Championship a year ago after injuring his ankle in Italy's opening training session in Austria.

The 34-year-old Cannavaro needs three more appearances to break Paolo Maldini's record of 126 caps for Italy. With free admission, the match was played before several thousand dancing schoolchildren in the Super Stadium in a township on the outskirts of Pretoria.

Toni started at center forward ahead of Gilardino, and the Bayern Munich striker was joined by Iaquinta on the left wing and Mauro Camoranesi on the right. Daniele De Rossi, Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso lined up in midfield. Fabio Grosso and Gianluca Zambrotta played left and right back, respectively, with Gianluigi Buffon back in goal after reserve goalkeeper Marco Amelia struggled against New Zealand.

Lippi changed his entire squad in the second half. After facing the United States, Italy plays Egypt on Thursday and closes group play against Brazil on June 21.

[tonykart]

Gattuso: In it to win it

Gennaro Gattuso won’t stand for superstitious talk about the Confederations Cup. “We’re here to win, not waste our time.â€

[Messinterista]

[Carlo Romano]