The Official Azzurri thread

[Carlo Romano]

Of course Lippi is to blame in many ways. My sentence "the acts of a man who cannot make up his own mind" doesn't even scratch the surface of his shortcomings, made all the worse given his experience. In fact I consider his decision to return as CT was no more than a personal desire to experience once again what he called "that incredible buzz" he got from the first moment of being in Germany. He misjudged certain aspects of going around for the second time, under estimated others, and is simply using his position for a selfish purpose.

However, at the end of the day it's not Lippi on the pitch but the players. I haven't the time to look for the appropriate links but if certain players as they have done, admit to not expressing themselves as fully as they can do, are we then to say they are merely trying to save theirs and their coach's face by "assuming" collective blame and therefore not take them to task over their own self blame?

I'd say their own admission of not pulling their weight covers my accusation very well! As for the Northern Ireland friendly and the Confederations Cup, we all here said back then exactly the same thing as you just have about Lippi missing a golden opportunity to integrate the new caps and formulate effective tactics!

[Giacomo]

OK, but I still believe that the fact the overall framework within which the players had to operate was so flawed it is very difficult for them to give their best. I think you underestimate that.

[p_maldini_3]

Lippi: 'It all starts now'
Monday 21 June, 2010
Marcello Lippi believes that Italy's World Cup campaign starts now after two disappointing results in Group F.

The world champions have been heavily criticised after drawing their opening two matches with Paraguay and New Zealand.

Speaking at a Press Conference this morning, Lippi said: “What we say is all that counts, in the middle of the pitch, far from everyone.

“We met yesterday evening and again this morning before training and we must be aware of traps from the outside.

“We can still do important things in this World Cup. We can do a lot better than what we have done up to now.

“But we must take responsibility after two games that didn't go how we hoped. It hasn't all gone very well, but we mustn't see the cup as half empty, because it isn't. There isn't any crisis.

“Seen from a certain angle these two games are negative, but seen from another they are less so. In fact, New Zealand had just two shots on goal. These juggernauts from New Zealand found themselves ahead after seven minutes and then put everyone behind the ball, but Paraguay also just had a couple of chances and no more.

“I believe I am one of the Coaches who uses his bench the most to involve the players as much as possible and because I feel it resolves problems. Many times it goes well, on other occasions it doesn't.

“I have read that Capello is worried about the fear of his players in their attitude towards this competition. I wouldn't like that to happen to us too.â€

[San Paolo]

save the spiel Lippi, you fucked up with the team selection, just put your hands up and admit it so we can all move on.

[San Paolo]

save the speil Lippi and hold your hands up and admit you messed up on the team selections so we can all move on.

[juventino_italiano]

[Italiamia]

Given what we have seen from Italy at this World Cup thus far I think we should shut down this thread for lutto nazionale. Thank you.

[tonykart]

[Carlo Romano]

Tony, Arrigo Sacchi also had the rep of having an attitude problem toward some players, and as I recall, that same accusation of Italy not being the personal plaything of any one individual was put to him in no uncertain terms, despite his taking our Azzurri to the final of USA 94. To be more precise, the period 1994-96 was when public opinion really turned badly against him regarding his indecisiveness over selection and tactics which came to a head with first, unconvincing warm up friendly performances, then our group stage exit from Euro 96. It seemed almost all of Italy was glad to see the back of him as CT when he took up Berlusconi's offer of a return to Milan.

A bit of an "old pals act" to save the face of a former hero whose status had sunk to the "go before you are pushed" level!

Lippi's case is slightly different in that he had already stated his intention to leave after this tournament. He need never work again of course but I think it's the nature of this man to continue in football which would be the likely answer to the question "Why the hell didn't he quit while he was ahead?"

When SA 2010 is all over, it won't surprise me at all if Signor Lippi's continued principal excuse for our not doing well this time around will be merely stating the obvious that Italy, unlike tournament favourites Argentina and Brasil, doesn't at this moment have any household name World Class stars who would make a real difference can be called up because far too many of the top players in Italy are now non Italian. A ready made get-out and one I have no doubt he will use!


Gio, this just wasn't our turn. Be consoled in knowing that unlike some, at least we have the capability to return in the future as genuine competitors! But for now, you never know, we may with luck at least still advance beyond the group stage.

[Bagg10]

Well if we do go through in 2nd place it may not be all that bad. I can see Portugal getting a win against Brazil (without Kaka), and Spain being held by Chile. Which would help us avoid Argentina, Brazil, and Spain until the final (which we probably won't make).

I think Lippi has a point about us playing teams who are more than happy to draw us, and that the Slovakia game will be different. He just needs to start getting his formation and his players right. And if we do qualify to the next round, we need a well rested but prepared Pirlo to help us out, and one of our forwards to start scoring some goals. I agree with most of you that this team could be a lot better with a few of the excluded players, but this team isn't as bad as people make it out to be. The performances have been horrible and in other world cups we wouldn't even deserve to make it out of the group stage, but this world cup has been a bit strange, plus we usually play better against better opposition anyway.

[Giacomo]

I really hope Italy makes it out of the group because I could see them treat the knock-out stage as a whole new copmpetition and make some progress in tight games where no group points are at stake.

[maro]

What do you mean 10 men behind the ball? We played three up front and continued to press for the win until the very end.

Giacomo, you might, I suppose, say that calling up Pellissier and Maresca and determining once and for all that they weren't quite good enough wasn't strictly a waste of the friendly.

[Messinterista]

[San Paolo]

i would argue the last game against NZ should have served as a warning considering they nearly beat us.

[juventino_italiano]

[RomaShield27]

Italy has everything on the line against Slovakia
– Tuesday June 22, 2010 9:18 AM

IRENE, South Africa (AP) -Entering the third game of a World Cup or European Championship with everything on the line is nothing new for Italy defender Gianluca Zambrotta. A member of Italy's team since 1999, Zambrotta can recall the first-round difficulties the Azzurri faced at the 2002 World Cup, Euro 2004 and Euro 2008 - and even last year's Confederations Cup.
In recent years, the only solid start came four years ago when Italy won its fourth World Cup.

Having opened this time with two draws, the defending champion must beat Slovakia on Thursday to be sure of advancing from Group F. "Either we're in or we're out,'' Zambrotta said. "It's not the first time we've faced a game like this and we know how to get the best out of ourselves.''

At the 2002 World Cup, Italy beat Ecuador in its opener, then lost to Croatia and needed an 85th-minute equalizer from Alessandro The Waterboy against Mexico to be sure of advancing. Two years later, the Azzurri drew their opening two matches with Denmark and Sweden at Euro 20004 and beat Bulgaria in its last group game, but was still eliminated.

At Euro 2008, Italy was defeated 3-0 by the Netherlands in its opener, then pulled out a 1-1 draw with Romania before beating France 2-0 to advance. The only recent instance where Italy lost its final group game came at last year's Confederations Cup, when the Azzurri were beaten 3-0 by Brazil and sent home early.

"To be honest, we're not even contemplating the possibility of getting eliminated,'' Zambrotta said. "We've still got a great chance of advancing.''

Italy drew 1-1 with Paraguay and New Zealand in its opening two games at this World Cup. Despite producing numerous chances, the Azzurri forwards have struggled to find the target against two opponents that defended with nine men from virtually start to finish.

The only two goals Italy has allowed came following free kicks. "We're going to give our all and hopefully we'll have a bit more luck,'' Zambrotta said. "Slovakia has everything on the line, too, so it should be a different game from our first two.''

[Italiamia]

Italy chief blames clubs for Euro woes
By Soccernet staff

Italian football federation president Giancarlo Abete has said money is the reason European sides have so far failed to impress at the World Cup.



Europe's traditional big six of Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, France and England have mustered only four wins between them in the first 11 days - and the Dutch provided two of them without hitting anything like top gear.

Abete blamed Europe's big clubs, awash with money from lucrative broadcast contracts, for failing to develop young players good enough for international football.

"If you look at this World Cup you'll realize that all the big European teams are having problems," he said. "Between Spain, France, England, Germany and Italy, we've only managed one win. Apart from the Netherlands, only Central and South American teams are smiling. The clubs have more power than the federations."

UEFA president Michel Platini is attempting to swing the balance back in favour of national associations and young players by enforcing minimum quotas on so-called home-grown players. But Abete is unconvinced.

"Real Madrid has a budget eight times that of the Spanish federation," he said. "All we can do is try to encourage coaches to put more faith in younger players. That's it."

The concerns are greater in England where more than half the players in the Premiershit are from abroad. The Football Association's head of development, Trevor Brooking, said that the national team faces greater problems still once the current generation of players fade.

"Every place in the league is worth £750,000 ($1.1 million), so even at the end of season you don't get a chance to try out youngsters because you might lose three places and cost yourself £2 million ($3 million) in the transfer budget."

In contrast, South American countries may be benefiting from the relative financial weakness of their clubs. Even big clubs such as Boca Juniors, Santos and River Plate struggle to hold onto their best players once European clubs show interest. That forces them to invest heavily in young players, with the game a traditional route out of poverty for many.

[Lombardiamia]

.................

INCREDIBILE BOSSI: "ITALIA-SLOVACCHIA? TANTO SI COMPRANO LA PARTITA"

«Tanto la partita se la comprano: vedrete che al prossimo campionato ci saranno due o tre calciatori slovacchi che giocano nelle squadre italiane...»: così il leader della Lega Umberto Bossi risponde ai cronisti che gli chiedono un pronostico sulla partita che, ai Mondiali in Sudafrica, vedrà giovedì contrapporsi la Nazionale italiana a quella della Slovacchia.

[Carlo Romano]

Lomba, that wouldn't in itself be enough to swing things for us even if there was any truth in it, and I'm sure you will agree.

I don't often side with Abete but in his criticism of this "so called" political party who would, given the chance, divide Italy in two, he is to say the least, right to state they really have crossed the line here!



Gio, interesting post!

[Italiamia]

Anything said by the imbecile Umberto Bossi should be immediately disregarded. He's an embarrassment.