Azzurri Thread (88 Viewers)
- Thread starter Marceℓℓo
- Start date
He's still a $#@! player though. I'd like to see Italy play 4-3-3 with Gio and Cassano either side of Balo. It could be interesting 
-------------Buffon
Abate - Barzagli - Chiellini - Balzaretti
----Marchisio - Pirlo - De Rossi
--Giovinco--------------Cassano
--------------Balotelli
Italy boss Cesare Prandelli tested out a number of attacking combinations in this morning’s training session at Coverciano.
Assessing 4-3-1-2 and 4-3-3 systems, it was in the attacking departments of both shapes where his selections were of most interest.
Prandelli fielded Parma star Sebastian Giovinco behind a front two of Antonio Cassano and Mattia Destro. He then evaluated a trident consisting of Mario Balotelli, Antonio Di Natale and Fabio Borini.
Italy will play a practice match against Virtus Vecomp later today.
Prandelli’s preferred formation in qualifying for Euro 2012 was the 4-3-1-2 with an attacking combination of Cassano and Giuseppe Rossi.
However, Milan man Cassano has recently just returned to action following six months out because of heart surgery.
Rossi, meanwhile, will miss the competition after he damaged knee ligaments for the second time this season in April.
Giorgio Chiellini and Riccardo Montolivo worked away from the group as they look to recover from injuries, while Pescara’s Marco Verratti
underwent tests in the gym.
Keep the midget away from the starting lineup and it's good.
Assessing 4-3-1-2 and 4-3-3 systems, it was in the attacking departments of both shapes where his selections were of most interest.
Prandelli fielded Parma star Sebastian Giovinco behind a front two of Antonio Cassano and Mattia Destro. He then evaluated a trident consisting of Mario Balotelli, Antonio Di Natale and Fabio Borini.
Italy will play a practice match against Virtus Vecomp later today.
Prandelli’s preferred formation in qualifying for Euro 2012 was the 4-3-1-2 with an attacking combination of Cassano and Giuseppe Rossi.
However, Milan man Cassano has recently just returned to action following six months out because of heart surgery.
Rossi, meanwhile, will miss the competition after he damaged knee ligaments for the second time this season in April.
Giorgio Chiellini and Riccardo Montolivo worked away from the group as they look to recover from injuries, while Pescara’s Marco Verratti
underwent tests in the gym.
Keep the midget away from the starting lineup and it's good.
I have this gut feeling that Giovinco will really impress at this tournament but it depends on how he is used. He may have too much on his shoulders if he is used as a trequartista but who knows.
Montolivo could be used as a trequartista but its not that clear because its more of a diamond 4 then a 4312. I suspect De Rossi will be working his bum off to cover for Maggio's runs
Also if Giovinco or Cassano is used as a trequartista, they better be mobile. I remember when Italy used Totti as a trequartista he was just in the hole behind the front 2 ALL of the time. You need to see the formation constantly change from 4312, to 433 where Cassano or Giovinco drift out on a flank - probably the left flank as Maggio will always be tearing down the right.
I think a front 3 (whether its 1 behind 2, a flat front 3 or 2 behind one) of Cassano, Giovinco and Balotelli would be awesome to watch but you need to seem them all work hard to help the midfield and defense otherwise its too one dimensional. De Rossi and Marchisio can be dangerous when making occasional runs into the box.
I am all for abandoning the big front man too. Honestly, how many goals do you see in the modern game of a cross coming in from open play to be headed by a big striker - the Trezeguet/Bierhoff days are behind us in a way. Modern football is less static and more mobile.
---------- Post added 24.05.2012 at 21:12 ----------
Big strikers still scored headed goals of course, but usually from set pieces.
Montolivo could be used as a trequartista but its not that clear because its more of a diamond 4 then a 4312. I suspect De Rossi will be working his bum off to cover for Maggio's runs
Also if Giovinco or Cassano is used as a trequartista, they better be mobile. I remember when Italy used Totti as a trequartista he was just in the hole behind the front 2 ALL of the time. You need to see the formation constantly change from 4312, to 433 where Cassano or Giovinco drift out on a flank - probably the left flank as Maggio will always be tearing down the right.
I think a front 3 (whether its 1 behind 2, a flat front 3 or 2 behind one) of Cassano, Giovinco and Balotelli would be awesome to watch but you need to seem them all work hard to help the midfield and defense otherwise its too one dimensional. De Rossi and Marchisio can be dangerous when making occasional runs into the box.
I am all for abandoning the big front man too. Honestly, how many goals do you see in the modern game of a cross coming in from open play to be headed by a big striker - the Trezeguet/Bierhoff days are behind us in a way. Modern football is less static and more mobile.
---------- Post added 24.05.2012 at 21:12 ----------
Big strikers still scored headed goals of course, but usually from set pieces.
