The Official Azzurri thread

[Bagg10]

Im not worried about the stage of preparation we're at. One thing that has bothered me almost ever since the WC, is how predictable our play has become, and how teams know they only have to stop a couple players to shut us down completely. Our defense is only a little above average, at best. Our midfield is very inconsistent, despite having two of the best CM's in the world in De Rossi and Pirlo. And our forwards lack international or even continental experience at club level. I think against Switzerland we saw how important Camo and Marchisio can be to that midfield, and I'm not just saying this as a Juventino. I think at times this team lacks fluid play, and it' time to tweak a few things, and Lippi sees that. I trust Lippi. I know some of you are pissed about Cassano not being considered, but I don't think any ONE player is going to make or break our WC run.

[Carlo Romano]

Bagg, since Lippi told us all that what lured him back was missing the incredible "buzz" he got, start to finish, from when he was actually in Germany, I've re-evaluated my opinion of him.

As a rule he is nobody's fool and in allowing himself to be swayed by a personal desire, I don't think he considered a number of contributary factors...stemming from the fact Serie A is generally not as strong as it was and that our strongest by far club side has only for now two possible players he can call, neither of whom are mature enough for this World Cup. These two points alone would seem to echo your worries over our midfield and attack. As for our defence...the fact we are glad to see a near 34 year old return, a man who considered himself to no longer meet the required standard says plenty!

Over a year ago you may possibly remember I had said I saw Don Marcello taking us to the quarter finals, the best he probably can do with what he has at his disposal. Then he will step down and let someone else prepare a Euro 2012 side which I believe will do well. We now know he's going after the World Cup. I believe he's always known he could take this particular squad only part of the way. I guess the experimentation is designed to make sure he can see us out in respectable fashion.

Don't concern yourself with Cassano. One man can exert an influence on but not carry a team. If Del Neri doesn't consider him fit enough to play for la Samp, whether through injury or temperament, what is he going to contribute to la nazionale!

btw, don't use Switzerland as a yardstick for judgement. God only knows why but we have a history of struggling against them, even with a team at times considerably better than theirs!

[p_maldini_3]

carlo, borriello is just good enough, and if you see him week in week out with milan, you'll see hes not world class.

and bagg, nobody trusts lippi anymore. the man is lost in his own legend, and there is no direction in the team.

it would be a damn shame to see italy play with a 3 defender formation. it would be a waste.

my ideal centerback pairing should be nesta and chiellini. cannavaro should be dropped. but lippi is too sentimental and not rational about these things.

[Bagg10]

Nazionale A
Amichevole Italia-Camerun. Tre le novità di Lippi: Sirigu, Bonucci e Cossu



Il portiere del Palermo Sirigu, il difensore del Bari Bonucci e il centrocampista del Cagliari Cossu: sono tre le novità tra i 23 azzurri convocati dal Commissario tecnico Marcello Lippi per l’amichevole che l’Italia giocherà mercoledì prossimo 3 marzo allo stadio “Louis IIâ€

[Bagg10]

--------------------------Marchetti

---------Legrottaglie---Cannavaro---Chiellini


Maggio----------De Rossi---------Pirlo----------Marchisio


---------------------------Montolivo

---------------Borriello/Pazzini----------Di Natale


or

Maggio-----------De Rossi--------Marchisio-------Criscito

-------------------------------Pirlo

or

Maggio----------De Rossi--------Gattuso---------Marchisio

-----------------------------Pirlo

[Carlo Romano]

Maldini, you're right of course to say Borriello is not world class but I think you do him an injustice by describing him as very ordinary. His interview as put online by Football Italia today tells us he reckons he deserves his call up. Well, he has to back that up with some goals or some very good play! Let's hope! I see my Di Natale question is answered too, called up for the Cameroon match.

But what a sore point, the world class bit! Buffon is our only player presently rated as being world class. I've never known such a situation in my life! Not that it's a stat we can argue...sad when you remember our Balon D'Or, World Player Of The Year etc winners, to say nothing of many other genuine stars we've had of that quality.

Bagg, on that subject and on the off chance you didn't know, Roby Baggio's life story on several dvd's is released today. If you don't want to buy them, I'm sure it won't be long before you can download them somewhere. I first saw him in a late night chat show interview on Rai Uno in the end of December 1989, the last few months of his time with Fiorentina. It's a testament to the man's talent that even playing for a struggling Juve in 1993 as he then was, he could be voted World Player Of The Year. A true genius by any standard!

[Italiamia]

Roberto Baggio is the best Italian to ever play the game. My opinion anyway. Carlo, I was fortunate enough to see the man play when he was with Fiorentina. The first time I saw him play I could not take my eyes off of him. All of us watching knew we were seeing pure genius at work. None of us had ever seen anything like it before.

FYI, Amauri is rumored to be obtaining his Italian passport this week. Comments.

[p_maldini_3]

[juventino_italiano]

[juventino_italiano]

[p_maldini_3]

[Bagg10]

[Messinterista]

Lippi: Inter Milan striker Balotelli has big Azzurri future

Italy coach Marcello Lippi says Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli will not be going to the World Cup.

But Lippi insists the youngster has a big future with the Azzurri.

“I hope Balotelli will do well for the Under-21 side on Wednesday because the game against Hungary is a difficult one,” noted Lippi.

“At Inter they are working a lot on this youngster and it is an important process for him to become important for the future of the Nerazzurri and Italy.”

Source: http://www.tribalfootball.com/lippi-int ... ure-676311

[Carlo Romano]

Gio, I've always thought Baggio could have been even more of a star than he was which is saying something, if only fate had dealt him some better cards...that injured thigh before the 1994 final for example. I remember well enough being angered by the opinion of some American Italians who were interviewed at the time by the BBC, saying he was over rated. One character said Italy didn't win because Baggio choked on all his money. Crazy talk!

You wanted comments on Amauri. I think Ennio sums it up nicely with "fuck him!" I rather think some employees of the Italian govermnent reckoned if the passport application could be dragged out long enough then something would happen to make Amauri's inclusion in the Azzurri squad an academic point...which is just what has happened as he has lost his form which will probably be what prompted Lippi to recently say he had no plans to call any of the "Oriundi" rumoured to be in with a chance.

An Amauri fan may argue that as his club side is going through a bad patch that doesn't help matters but if we draw a parallel with Di Natale, we see that hasn't held him back!

Maldini, I was of the opinion that what held Criscito back at Juve was his slight frame, he was too lightweight. He seems to be addressing that problem with Genoa and is filling out. I guess he is spending time in the gym, aside from normal training. I also think he has what it takes and he is one of my hopes for our Euro 2012 Azzurri.

Bagg, I will try to keep an eye out for you re/the Baggio discs on my Italian tv channels. The sponsor is one of the bigger newspapers, I think "Tutto Sport" or possibly "Il Messagero." Again though, I rather think something like this will find its way round the net pretty quickly.

btw, interesting film clips! I had forgotten some of the specific incidents but this brought them all back. A pity we don't fully see Trap kicking in the tv monitor after watching the replay which showed the refereeing errors of that Ecuadorian idiot!

MI, it's good to see Inter are taking Balotelli seriously now and trying to mature him, rather than thinking of loaning him or selling him. Let's hope they leave enough of the fire in his personality to be expressed in his play though!

[Lombardiamia]

[Carlo Romano]

Well maybe...but are the reported spats with Mou just media crap too? He does need to be calmed, Lomba. I saw Eto'o doing just that with him at the week end.

Don't get me wrong, I want him to succeed. As I've said before, the doubters will soon forgive and forget if he scores regularly enough for both Inter and our Azzurrini.

[Lombardiamia]

But that is a different issue. Of course Balotelli needs to be straightened up and Mou doesnt lose a chance to do that, privately and publicly. By I dare say that currently there is only one player at Inter who will never be sold at any cost, Mario Balotelli.

[Italiamia]

By Anna Italia
Covering the 2010 World Cup South Africa from an Italian Perspective

Italy Head Coach Marcello Lippi covers different topics during the press conference on Monday, March 1, 2010 in the Technical Center of Coverciano where the Italian National team is preparing the international friendly game against Cameroon on Wednesday, March 3, 2010.

Lippi responded to questions on latest rumors and comments regarding AC Milan coach Leonardo, Inter forward Mario Balotelli, Juventus forward Amauri, AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta.

Putting an end to speculation on the possible return of Alessandro Nesta to the Nazionale, Lippi said it clearly. Point is that Lippi talked to Nesta to see if he would convinced him to return, but not a chance. Lippi said, “I believe it was his final word on the matter when he told me that he doesn’t feel like it. I’m sorry, I wanted to shake him, but I respect his decision."

Regarding Inter forward Mario Balotelli and a possible call up. "I hope he has a decisive impact on Wednesday with the Under 21’s, given that Hungary is a difficult match. Inter are doing well in developing this young man who in the future will be useful both for Inter and Italy"

Regarding Inter forward Mario Balotelli and a possible call up. "I hope he has a decisive impact on Wednesday with the Under 21’s, given that Hungary is a difficult match. Inter are doing well in developing this young man who in the future will be useful both for Inter and Italy"

Monday, March 1, 2010 - Italy Head Coach Marcello Lippi during the press conference on first day training preparing for the friendly game Italy vs Cameroon in Monte Carlo on Wednesday, March 3, 2010.

In relation to the growing voices that Amauri will play for the Italian National team and not Brazil, Lippi said, "I’ll talk about Amauri in a few days, because that’s when he becomes an Italian citizen. Only when he is an Italian citizen will he be in the frame like other Italian players. I’m referring to Toni, Gilardino and Rossi." Amauri’s passport arrives on Wednesday, the day of the Italy-Cameroon game.

The response getting my attention was about the petition from AC Milan coach Leonardo to Lippi. Reportedly, Leonardo had asked him to take particular care with Milan’s Italy players.Bam, Lippi responding in the press conference, “I’d like to remind everyone that between November and 23 May I have just this one game to observe the lads, so I won't be taking any account of the Fiorentina-Juventus and Roma-Milan games on Saturday. Some players will just play one half, but I assure you that the others will play a full 90 minutes. I hope that their managers understand this.â€

[Bagg10]

[Jamoldo]