The Official Azzurri thread

[Bagg10]

[Italiamia]

[stefano]

[RomaShield27]

I agree with the above.

Lippi: 'What Cassano story?'
– Wednesday 4 November, 2009

Marcello Lippi is curious as to what the “very ugly storyâ€

[marco]

[p_maldini_3]

[RomaShield27]

Italy: Candreva and Biondini debut
– Sunday 8 November, 2009

Antonio Candreva and Davide Biondini get debut calls, while Giampaolo Pazzini and more are in the Italy squad to face Holland and Sweden. Marcello Lippi announced the list of 25 players for the upcoming friendly tests ahead of the 2010 World Cup. They welcome Holland to the Stadio Adriatico in Pescara on Saturday November 14, then Sweden come to Cesena on Wednesday November 18.

There are two debutants in the squad, as Livorno midfielder Candreva and Cagliari man Biondini receive their first international calls. Others return to the Azzurri fold, such as Sampdoria hitman Pazzini, but there is again no room for his teammate Antonio Cassano. Palermo's Mattia Cassani, Genoa defender Domenico Criscito, Parma's Daniele Galloppa, Christian Maggio of Napoli and Fiorentina winger Marco Marchionni earn recalls.

Italy squad
Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), De Sanctis (Napoli), Marchetti (Cagliari)

Defenders: Bocchetti (Genoa), Cannavaro (Juventus), Cassani (Palermo), Chiellini (Juventus), Criscito (Genoa), Grosso (Juventus), Legrottaglie (Juventus), Maggio (Napoli), Zambrotta (Milan)

Midfielders: Biondini (Cagliari), Camoranesi (Juventus), Candreva (Livorno), De Rossi (Roma), Galloppa (Parma), Marchionni (Fiorentina), Palombo (Sampdoria), Pirlo (Milan)

Forwards: Di Natale (Udinese), Gilardino (Fiorentina), Palladino (Genoa), Pazzini (Sampdoria), Rossi (Villarreal)


Di Natale, Palladino, Rossi and even Pazzini in there ahead of Cassano, and can anyone honestly say any of those are on better form then Fantonio?

And Biondini getting a call up??!

[juventino_italiano]

[RomaShield27]

Montolivo replaces injured De Rossi
Reuters - 1 hours ago

ROME - Marcello Lippi has called up Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Montolivo to replace Roma's Daniele De Rossi for friendlies against the Netherlands and Sweden, the Italian Football Federation said on Monday. AS Roma said De Rossi needed surgery on a fractured cheekbone after clashing with Patrick Vieira in the first half of their 1-1 draw at Serie A leaders Inter Milan on Sunday. World champions Italy take on the Netherlands in Pescara on Saturday before facing Sweden in Cesena four days later.

[Carlo Romano]

I too am glad to see some more new names amongst the call ups.

How about a little gossip though...

[quote][size=84]Totti on Cassano and la nazionale: “Antonio is a good lad. I would select him for La Nazionale if he were to change his attitude a little off the pitch,â€

[RomaShield27]

LIPPI: HOPEFULS RUNNING OUT OF TIME
By Cindy Garcia-Bennett, Press Association Sport, Rome –

The Italian players hoping to break into Marcello Lippi's World Cup squad are running out of time, the coach has admitted. Lippi has gathered again with his national team to prepare for Saturday's friendly against Holland in Pescara before travelling to Cesena to take on Sweden four days later.

"We have been working with a group of 30-35 players and from that list 23 will go to South Africa," Lippi said.

While the calls for Sampdoria's Antonio Cassano to be included in the group have not been as loud as in coming weeks, the player's fans have not given up hope he will feature in the squad. Cassano was in Roberto Donadoni's Euro 2008 side but ever since Lippi returned to guide the Azzurri, the playmaker has not featured for Italy.

"It will be difficult for anyone to enter the group after the last friendly but it's not impossible," Lippi said. "We only have three further games left and two of them we will play in the coming week, then we will return to train in March.

"The opportunities to verify the team are not many as you can see." Lippi has an idea about what kind of team he would like to face in Italy's last warm-up game. "In our last friendly I would like to face an African national team," he said.

One player who is not thinking about next year's top event in South Africa just yet is Livorno midfielder Antonio Candreva. Candreva, who alongside Cagliari midfielder Davide Biondini earned his first call to the senior team on Sunday, is delighted to be training with the world champions.

"I'm just looking to enjoy this experience," the 22-year-old said. "To have arrived here is already special for me. I'm not thinking about the World Cup. My only thought this season is to help Livorno defend its Serie A status. "Besides, it is much easier to think about this aim than trying to clinch a place for the World Cup."

The Azzurri are without injured Alessandro Gamberini, Gennaro Gattuso, Claudio Marchisio, Gaetano D'Agostino, Daniele De Rossi, Pepe and Vincenzo Iaquinta. However, Lippi is hoping to have Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon for this weekend's game. Buffon was unable to train today and is doubtful for the encounter against Holland as he is struggling with flu. "Buffon has seven lives, just like cats," Lippi said. "We will wait to see how he is before making a decision."

------------------------------------------------

Lippi is an idiot. After these comments, I would fire him as soon as possible in order to give the new manager time to familiarise himself with the job and pick the best players at his disposal.

[Messinterista]

Seriously, wtf does this cazzo what Cassano to do???

[Messinterista]

Montolivo adds to Azzurri injuries

After losing Daniele De Rossi, replacement Riccardo Montolivo could also miss Italy’s friendly test with Holland.

The Fiorentina midfielder complained of muscular problems during today’s training session and, according to Sky Sport Italia, is a major doubt to feature in Saturday’s game.

It would be a heavy blow for the Azzurri, who only drafted Montolivo in after Roma star De Rossi pulled out with a fractured cheekbone.

De Rossi underwent surgery to reduce the fracture to his right cheekbone and was released from hospital this afternoon.

Medical staff suggest a 15-20 day absence and when he does return to the field, it will be with a protective mask.

De Rossi sustained the injury during an accidental clash with Patrick Vieira’s elbow in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Inter.

If Montolivo cannot recover in time for the weekend, Coach Marcello Lippi could be forced to throw Davide Biondini in at the deep end.

The Cagliari midfielder received his debut international call for these friendlies, but certainly was not expecting to start against Holland.

Goalkeeper Gigi Buffon is also in doubt after postponing his arrival at the training camp until Thursday due to a fever.

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/nov10t.html

[p_maldini_3]

Cassano hit my son, jokes Lippi
Wednesday 11 November, 2009
Italy boss Marcello Lippi has joked that the reason why he has repeatedly ignored Antonio Cassano is because he gave his son Davide a swollen cheek.

Earlier this month Sampdoria President Riccardo Garrone said that “a very very ugly storyâ€

[Bagg10]

[red]

[Bagg10]

[Messinterista]

[RomaShield27]

[Diamanti]