Trap unveils new-look Italy Friday 6 September, 2002
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Giovanni Trapattoni has confirmed the starting line-up to face Azerbaijan in Saturday’s Euro 2004 qualifier.
Alessandro Del Piero will fill in for the injured Francesco Totti as a Trequartista – an unusual role for the Juventus man – behind front two Christian Vieri and Filippo Inzaghi.
The training sessions have shown Vincenzo Montella on fine form and it is likely he will be drafted in for the second half.
Trap realises this is a crucial encounter for his future on the Italy bench, but was met with great enthusiasm by a crowd at Baku in Azerbaijan after a four-hour flight.
“I am also greeted with similar warmth and affection in Italy,” he assured, “but you journalists always try to make things look bad.”
However, he lost his smile when told about FA President Franco Carraro’s claims that everyone was 100% behind Trapattoni.
“I don’t want to talk about this now. I want to discuss the team and nothing more.”
The Azzurri open their Euro 2004 qualifying campaign and must earn a victory if rumours of an early change of management are to be dispelled.
Trap has taken on board suggestions following the disappointing 2002 World Cup campaign, turning to a 4-3-1-2 formation with attacking full-backs Christian Panucci and Francesco Coco.
Probable line-ups
Azerbaijan: 1 Kramarenko; 2 K Guiliyev, 5 Karimov, 6 Ahmedov, 3 E Agayev; 7 Imamaliyev, 4 M Gurbanov, 10 Sadygov, E Guiliyev, 11 S Aliyev; 9 G Gourbanov
Italy: 1 Buffon; 2 Panucci, 6 Nesta, 5 Cannavaro, 3 Coco; 7 Gattuso, 8 Tommasi, 4 Di Biagio; 10 Del Piero; 9 Inzaghi, 11 Vieri
Ref: Vassaras (Gre)
Football Italia
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Giovanni Trapattoni has confirmed the starting line-up to face Azerbaijan in Saturday’s Euro 2004 qualifier.
Alessandro Del Piero will fill in for the injured Francesco Totti as a Trequartista – an unusual role for the Juventus man – behind front two Christian Vieri and Filippo Inzaghi.
The training sessions have shown Vincenzo Montella on fine form and it is likely he will be drafted in for the second half.
Trap realises this is a crucial encounter for his future on the Italy bench, but was met with great enthusiasm by a crowd at Baku in Azerbaijan after a four-hour flight.
“I am also greeted with similar warmth and affection in Italy,” he assured, “but you journalists always try to make things look bad.”
However, he lost his smile when told about FA President Franco Carraro’s claims that everyone was 100% behind Trapattoni.
“I don’t want to talk about this now. I want to discuss the team and nothing more.”
The Azzurri open their Euro 2004 qualifying campaign and must earn a victory if rumours of an early change of management are to be dispelled.
Trap has taken on board suggestions following the disappointing 2002 World Cup campaign, turning to a 4-3-1-2 formation with attacking full-backs Christian Panucci and Francesco Coco.
Probable line-ups
Azerbaijan: 1 Kramarenko; 2 K Guiliyev, 5 Karimov, 6 Ahmedov, 3 E Agayev; 7 Imamaliyev, 4 M Gurbanov, 10 Sadygov, E Guiliyev, 11 S Aliyev; 9 G Gourbanov
Italy: 1 Buffon; 2 Panucci, 6 Nesta, 5 Cannavaro, 3 Coco; 7 Gattuso, 8 Tommasi, 4 Di Biagio; 10 Del Piero; 9 Inzaghi, 11 Vieri
Ref: Vassaras (Gre)
Football Italia
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